Supporting the Whole Student: A Look at Well-Being Resources

Last year, 45% of undergraduate students and 36% of graduate students at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) reported experiencing loneliness, according to a survey of 647 students administered by UNC’s Office of Health Promotion. New national data from Active Minds and higher education virtual health care provider TimelyCare suggest the issue is intensifying. Nearly two-thirds (64.7%) of college students across the country now report feeling lonely, and nearly three in ten (28.8%) report experiencing severe psychological distress.

In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared loneliness a public health “epidemic,” warning that chronic loneliness and isolation pose a profound threat to overall health and well-being. Loneliness can negatively affect university students’ physical and mental health, as well as their academic performance, making it not only a wellness concern but also a student success issue. 

This epidemic, however, is not distributed equally. At UNC, loneliness rates were notably higher among trans and gender-nonconforming students; a trend mirrored nationally, where 70.3% of LGBTQ+ students identify as lonely compared to 60.6% of their peers. This sense of isolation has created a ripple effect, with a majority of college students now reporting they are deeply concerned about at least one friend’s mental health. 

Introducing RADical Health 

To help students make friends and build resilience to combat loneliness, the Office of Health Promotion has launched the RADical Health Program, where students meet in small groups with peer leaders to focus on community. This mental health support experience has been proven nationwide to strengthen the skills of stress management, self-care, communication, self-awareness and decision-making in college students. 

John Hancock, assistant vice president for Wellness and Support in the Division of Student Affairs, sees the program as a vital tool for students. 

“RADical Health targets connections,” Hancock said. “Our students at UNC are not unlike students nationally who report significant levels of loneliness. The fact that this program targets that and provides support is great.” 

Currently, RADical Health is a pilot program focusing on a small group of first-time Bears who joined UNC this spring, but Hancock has high hopes for expanding the program in the near future. 

“We know from other institutions that were early adopters of RADical Health that affinity-based groups have a lot of potential,” Hancock said. “By the fall, we hope to offer students the opportunity to join a RADical Health group that connects to one of their identities—for example, groups for international students, out-of-state students, LGBTQ+ students, or students of color [etc.].” 

For many students, finding a sense of belonging is what keeps them moving through a demanding college schedule, including one UNC student who says their communities have been vital to their success and mental health. 

“I actually thrive under some pressure; I find myself happiest when I am going to school, my internship and work,” they said. “Since I started college, I have worked really hard to create a community for myself in all these different facets of my life. I think humans are social creatures, so the best way to keep my mental health in a good spot is to be around people. Talking to my community and letting them know I am struggling has been really important to me.” 

Striving for a Safety Net

Addressing loneliness and supporting mental health are part of a broader approach to well-being at UNC. Along with the Office of Health Promotion, there is the Center for Student Well-Being (CSW), located on the first floor of the University Center. There, through experienced case management, students have access to a holistic safety net of resources.

At the forefront of these efforts are the resource navigators. For a typical student, diving into the maze of government financial assistance can be a full-time job, often leaving students both overwhelmed and underserved. The CSW’s resource navigators are there to provide the expertise necessary to unlock financial support for students in need. 

Resource Navigator Lauren Crowley says she uses her background in case management to guide students toward stability. 

“A lot of my role is helping students navigate public applications like SNAP and Medicaid,” said Crowley. “Many students come in who assume they don’t qualify, and they are quite shocked when they do.” 

Having attended a much larger university for her own undergraduate studies, Crowley is particularly struck by the close-knit nature of UNC. She views the frequent student referrals she receives from faculty as a testament to their deep personal investment in student success; this faculty support is met with equal appreciation by the students themselves. Crowley has come to deeply admire their resilience, citing it as a defining characteristic of the UNC culture. 

“A lot of my students come from difficult financial backgrounds or family situations, and yet they are so motivated to finish their degree,” she said. “They [know] they can rely on us and they’re willing to advocate for themselves.”

Crowley provided the example of a hypothetical student seeking help for childcare amid a government shutdown. With the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program for Families (CCAP) frozen, she would utilize a “systems-thinking” approach to address the issue holistically, focusing on eliminating other financial barriers to free up the student’s existing resources. Additionally, connecting the student to resources such as the Bear Pantry and partnering with Project Self-Sufficiency for further support would help the student to balance their budget to pay for childcare.

Feeding the Bears 

Bear Pantry, UNC’s on-campus food pantry offering free groceries and essentials to students and employees, works closely with the CSW. Operating largely from generous donor funding, Bear Pantry is partnered with Feeding America and Weld Food Bank. The latter collaboration fuels the Weld Food Bank’s Mobile Food Pantry, a monthly fixture that rolls onto campus, typically on the second Tuesday of each month, to provide fresh produce, dairy and meat to students, faculty and the Greeley community. 

According to Taylor Schiestel, director of the CSW, this partnership is one of the program’s most vital. 

“When we receive donor funding, we can spend that money at the food bank and get way more than we ever could at [a grocery store],” Schiestel said. “For example, we can buy boxes of meat for $25 at the Weld Food Bank that would cost hundreds of dollars at [a grocery store].” 

In addition to helping students navigate government assistance programs and food insecurity, the CSW offers emergency support funding for students experiencing unexpected emergencies resulting in financial burden. Schiestel detailed experiences assisting students with transportation and housing expenses, medical expenses and even emergency vet bills for emotional support animals. Determining emergency funding eligibility is a collaborative process spearheaded by a diverse committee of university leadership from multiple departments.

Stopping the Stigma 

For many students, the first barrier to accessing resources is overcoming stigma related to safety net programs. With this in mind, Crowley and her colleagues are consistently and proactively working to establish a welcoming environment at the CSW.

“I don’t start the conversation with resources,” Crowley said. “I always start with, ‘What is going on with you?'”

Schiestel emphasized that by normalizing the pursuit of basic needs, the university can transform a student’s entire academic trajectory. 

“The biggest thing is eliminating the stigma of meeting with someone for resources,” she said. “What students go through on a day-to-day basis is hard enough. If we can ease that burden or walk through it with them, that is what we want to do.” 

At its core, the work being done at the CSW is about shifting the narrative from survival to success. By removing the weight of food insecurity, financial crisis and mental health barriers, UNC is ensuring that a student’s potential is never hindered by their circumstances.  

“No one should feel they can’t receive their basic human needs because they are prioritizing something else,” Schiestel said. “If we can make it easier for students, that is our ultimate goal.”