Learn About the Campus Program

What's at Stake　

The situation is concerning:

• There are approximately 21 million people enrolled in post-secondary institutions in the United States ⁱ
• More than half of college students experienced "overwhelming anxiety" at some point in the past year ⁱⁱ
• About 32 percent reported feeling "so depressed that it was difficult to function" and eight percent reported seriously considering suicide ⁱⁱ
• Half of all full-time college students binge drink and abuse prescription drugs and/or illegal drugs ⁱⁱⁱ
• Almost 1 in 4 of the nation’s college students meets the medical criteria for substance abuse ⁱⁱⁱ 

What We're Doing About It 

The Campus Program is designed to help colleges and universities promote emotional wellbeing and mental health programming, reduce substance abuse, and prevent suicide among their students.

When a school becomes a member of The Campus Program, it demonstrates the school’s commitment to assessing and enhancing mental health promotion, and substance abuse and suicide prevention programming for students, families and campus professionals.

Participation in The Campus Program begins by:

1. establishing an interdisciplinary, campus-wide oversight team to assess, support and implement program improvements.

2.  participating in an introductory workshop where the Campus Program Framework is reviewed and guidelines for next steps are discussed.

3. completing a confidential self-assessment survey to determine the current mental health and substance abuse programs, and opportunities for potential enhancements.

Over the course of four years, the school and The Campus Program team – through a series of technical assistance activities – will work together to identify opportunities to enhance  mental health and substance abuse prevention programming on campus. Survey responses and feedback reports are all confidential. Each school that joins the program will be given The Campus Program membership seal to illustrate their commitment to this work.  For more details on program participation, what is required and how to get started, click here.