Written by: Elissa Weaver, Intern, Student Life Communications
Supporting the mental health of college students is uniquely complex due to several compounding factors such as developmental transitions, financial strain, increased academic pressure, and the sudden loss of traditional support systems. Because of this, UT continuously works to expand and adapt their mental health resources along with the ever-changing student body. Now, with investment from the Division of Student Life and the Division of Student Success, the university is expanding access to training programs in order to provide Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training campus-wide.
Mental Health First Aid is a nationally recognized, evidence-based training program that equips individuals with the skills to recognize and help those in immediate distress who are facing mental health or substance abuse challenges. UT currently has 16 MHFA trainers across various divisions on campus, positioning the university to provide training at a scale that supports broad workforce and leadership development.
“You don’t have to be a medical professional to provide assistance that can be life-saving,” says Madisien Howard, director of the Center for Care and Resilience. In addition to the high number of available trainers, the course itself is offered in three modalities. While each format is interactive and requires full participation, this flexibility makes the training more accessible for busy students, faculty, and staff by expanding outreach and ultimately increasing the number of Vols who
can participate.
“You don’t have to be a medical professional to provide assistance that can be life-saving.”
Madisien Howard
Director, Center for Care and Resilience
Importantly, MHFA’s reach extends past staff development and into student leadership spaces. For example, one sorority has taken initiative and requested training for their entire chapter, demonstrating how student organizations can serve as multipliers for change and peer-to-peer support.
“The biggest difference [between MHFA and other UT mental health resources] is the depth and breadth of this course,” says Howard. “The program is incredibly impactful and really has potential to change the way we provide support here at UT.” Beyond building recognition skills, MHFA also equips individuals with practical resource manuals and referral guides in order to direct those in need to the right campus or community resource at the right time. As more students, faculty, and staff receive training in case management support, UT is expanding the number of people across campus who are confident in responding with care and guiding others to their next steps. The incorporation of this internal training strengthens our culture of support on campus and simultaneously extends the university’s capacity to reach those who otherwise may go unnoticed.
Another key contribution from MFHA is its role in reducing stigma through practical education and language. For example, mental illnesses like schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder typically don’t emerge until late adolescence or early adulthood. With training, individuals are able to confront misconceptions, shifting from diagnosis-focused assumptions to human-centered support.
The expansion of Mental Health First Aid training is just another way UT is building a campus culture based on community and support. By equipping more students, faculty, and staff with the skills to recognize distress and offer help within our community, MHFA strengthens mental health literacy, reduces stigma, and increases the likelihood that a Vol in need is met with empathy and action. For the Division of Student Life, this work utilizes a proactive approach, different from many of the other traditional services the university already offers on campus, ensuring students can be met with empathy and action in everyday spaces.