Ӱ Launches New Mental Health Support Simulations for Faculty and Staff
Beach faculty and staff now have an exciting new resource to support the mental health of students! Launching just in time for World Mental Health Day—Oct. 10, 2024—Ӱ’s new Mental Health Support Simulations offer an immersive training experience where all employees can practice active listening, expressing empathy, and referring students to Beach wellness resources. The gamified simulation tool, customized specifically for Ӱ, allows participants to interact with student avatars in lifelike environments. This virtual space enables faculty and staff to practice assisting students through challenging personal scenarios.
“With the new simulation tool, we hope our campus community will feel better equipped to assist the students they encounter,” said Vice President of Student Affairs Beth Lesen. “We know that everyone in our Beach family really wants to help people who are struggling. Sometimes, folks don’t feel fully equipped and are reluctant because they don’t want to do anything wrong. We’re hoping that with simulated training opportunities, faculty and staff will have the chance to strengthen those skills, so they feel more confident in those situations and are also equipped to help without feeling as intense an impact on their own stress levels.”
The simulations are available 24/7 in both English and Spanish for the entire campus community, providing an opportunity to rehearse interactions and gain confidence in becoming better student advocates. The tool features multiple endings, allowing players to make several attempts to continuously improve their referral skills in a low-stakes environment that mitigates student harm. Faculty and staff are encouraged to engage with the simulation and repeat the training to prepare for the student interactions they may encounter in their daily lives.
Ӱ recognizes that students are experiencing high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as homelessness, food insecurity, and loneliness. As such, the Beach is taking a proactive approach to offer support to students navigating these challenges alongside their studies.
At Ӱ, we understand that holistic student success means addressing student needs both inside and outside the classroom. “When I think about our job as faculty, it’s to help students obtain their degrees. It’s about student success, but it’s also about preparing them for life success. As faculty, when we can meet their academic needs as well as their physical and mental health needs, we’re setting them up for a strong future,” said Dr. Lisa Sparks, a lecturer faculty in the Health Science department.
Compassion is a cornerstone of Beach culture. Through this new tool, employees can practice leading with empathy and better understand how to serve students in need of additional support. The Mental Health Support Simulations align with the Beach 2030 strategic priorities to build community and cultivate resilience by prioritizing the health and well-being of the campus community.
