The Student E-Mental Health Project

Depression, anxiety, and stress-related problems are pervasive in University life and can result in behaviors such as substance abuse and suicide. Patterns of self-harmful behavior can have detrimental long-term consequences, as emotional difficulties and risky substance use may hinder students’ ability to thrive during their key formative years in University. In young cohorts, alcohol, cannabis, stimulant, and opioid use/experimentation are common, and thus contribute to excess-disability and mortality.

The Student E-Mental Health Project looks at the prevalence and impacts of these habits, problems, and disorders on student wellbeing, offering a suite of personalized e-interventions. Our online screening and e-intervention tools will firstly detect at-risk and affected youth, and identify barriers to treatment. Secondly, the e-tools will facilitate behavioral changes by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression through evidence-based psychosocial interventions that have been specifically adapted for Canadian University students. To effectively diminish the harms associated with common mental problems and substance use, as well as to promote resiliency and social connections, this e-tool is being co-developed with UBC student groups. Students are guiding development with careful feedback and a collaborative vision of how to bolster UBC’s brick-and-mortar services, whilst the research team homes in on the most needed evidence-based e-interventions.

The Student E-Mental Health Project is a 4-year Health Canada funded multi-site trial that seeks to improve both mental health and substance use outcomes for university students.

You can learn more about the Student E-Mental Health Project on the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health site, and check out our official website here!