WINONA, Minn. — Winona State University (WSU) is expanding its efforts to tackle the growing mental health crisis by providing students with round-the-clock access to mental health resources. In partnership with Mantra Health, the university is offering virtual tele-health services and crisis support to students, available 24/7, to ensure they have the help they need at any time.
The initiative comes as part of a broader effort to address the increasing mental health challenges faced by college students. According to recent data from the CDC, the United States is in the midst of a mental health crisis, with rising rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health struggles affecting individuals across all age groups, including college students.
WSU’s Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Life, Dr. Denise McDowell, highlighted the pressure students often face to succeed while masking their mental health struggles. “Our parents send us to college, and we’re supposed to be successful. We’re taught to be courageous, brave, and to be okay, but sometimes, we just aren’t,” she said. “It’s important that we create an environment where students feel comfortable saying ‘I’m not okay.'”
To support students during times of need, WSU has been enhancing its mental health resources, offering a variety of services such as counseling and a peer-to-peer support program. “We have a multitude of resources for mental health, starting with our counseling services, which are heavily utilized here on campus,” said Kateri Johnson, Director of Counseling and Wellness Services at WSU. “We also offer peer support within the residence halls, which has been effective in creating a supportive campus community.”
However, one of the key challenges in addressing student mental health is ensuring support is available outside of regular office hours. To address this, WSU has partnered with Mantra Health through the Minnesota State System to offer students 24/7 access to mental health support.
Through this partnership, WSU students can access up to 12 virtual therapy sessions with licensed counselors. Additionally, students can contact a dedicated crisis line for immediate support from trained professionals. “Students can reach out for support any time, day or night,” Johnson said. “They can talk to a counselor virtually or be connected to a crisis professional when needed.”
For students who prefer peer support over professional counseling, the platform also offers a moderated space similar to Reddit, where students can share their thoughts and receive guidance from others who may be experiencing similar challenges. This feature has already seen significant engagement, with over 150 WSU students signing into the Mantra Health app and around 24 students participating in therapy sessions.
While the immediate goal is to provide accessible mental health services, WSU is also focused on helping students develop long-term coping strategies. Dr. McDowell emphasized the importance of teaching students the tools they need to handle stress and trauma not only during their time at college but also beyond. “We’re trying to get ahead of the issue by helping students develop coping skills. These resources address many of the challenges young people, and adults alike, face when it comes to trauma and mental health issues.”
The partnership with Mantra Health is not limited to WSU students. The service is available to anyone within the Minnesota State system, broadening access to critical mental health support across the state.
With the continued rise in mental health concerns among students, initiatives like this are becoming crucial in providing students with the resources they need to succeed, both academically and personally.
