Sometimes it seems stress is everywhere. In fact, when UNC’s Office of Health Promotion surveyed students this past spring, students reported the top conditions that negatively affected their academic performance in the past year were stress (40%); anxiety (36%); depression (26%); and sleep difficulties (21%). In the same survey, nearly half of UNC Bears reported experiencing loneliness and feeling left out. While these numbers tell an important story about the student experience, these data do not fully tackle the issue.  

UNC Flourish is a new campaign that invests in improving student well-being, and we invite you to play your part. This campaign is rooted in meaningful connections, engagement and belonging. UNC Flourish is a campaign that reminds us it’s OK to be stressed, it’s OK to get help and it’s possible to feel better. UNC Flourish challenges us all to take care of ourselves and to take care of one another.    

UNC Flourish is an outcome of UNC’s two-year engagement with the JED Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to young adult mental health. Each month, a UNC steering committee meets and reflects on student mental health and how it can leverage resources to support student well-being.    

In the spirit of UNC Flourish, here are some exciting things UNC’s Office of Health Promotion and JED teams have been focusing on: 

• The “Time to Ungrind” campaign encourages everyone to make choices to reduce stress. Have you seen the purple posters across campus? How does your campus experience relate to the percentages listed on the posters?  
• Fentanyl poisoning education efforts, including free naloxone and fentanyl test strips. 
• Speakers on important topics related to emotional well-being and substance use. The Office of Health Promotion received funding last spring from UNC’s Student Government Association (thank you, SGA) to bring top-notch speakers to campus, focusing on topics related to mental well-being and substance use. Last week, OHP partnered with the César Chávez Cultural Center, the Center for Women’s and Gender Equity, and the College Opportunity Scholarship Initiative to bring Gloria Lucas to campus to talk about an intersectional approach to body image, race, gender and eating disorders. We will have another speaker this spring.
• The Weld Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry has come to campus this fall, serving hundreds of students who need access to produce, meat and other food items. The Mobile Pantry will return on Nov. 14. 

If you would you like to be a part of our efforts to improve student emotional well-being, we have committees focused on Equity in Mental Health, Student Belonging and Engagement, and Mental Health Training. Just email HealthPromotion@unco.edu to let us know of your interest; we are always looking for students, faculty and staff to provide voice and perspective on mental health and emotional well-being. 

Going forward, look for more occasional articles about what UNC Flourish is up to. In the meantime, look for our Health Promotion tabling around campus, where you can pick up some nice UNC Flourish SWAG!  

John Hancock, Ed.D. 

Assistant Vice President for Wellness & Support