{"id":67952,"date":"2023-04-24T01:12:17","date_gmt":"2023-04-24T05:12:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world.edu\/?p=67952"},"modified":"2023-04-24T01:12:17","modified_gmt":"2023-04-24T05:12:17","slug":"4-ways-all-online-university-courses-could-promote-student-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/4-ways-all-online-university-courses-could-promote-student-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"4 ways all online university courses could promote student mental health"},"content":{"rendered":"

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One quarter of first-year university students in Canada<\/a>\u00a0self-declare that they have a disability. Among those, mental-health-related disabilities are the most common. Each year, more students with\u00a0self-declared mental-health issues enroll in post-secondary institutions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

At the same time in Canada,\u00a0more students are taking online courses<\/a>, particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. For students with disabilities, online learning might be the best option to pursue post-secondary education.<\/p>\n

My doctoral research explored various influences that affect learning for post-secondary students with mental-health-related disabilities who are studying online, drawing on the perspectives of students, instructors and student support staff.<\/p>\n

Course work is central to student experience<\/strong><\/h4>\n

To get a picture of the range of influences on learning, I categorized influences on learning as individual (for example, experiencing symptoms of mental illness), inter-personal (relationships with instructors and peers) and institutional (factors like accessibility of course content and student services).<\/p>\n

My study findings suggest online learning spaces ought to be inclusive and accessible, and that they can be key locations for promoting mental health for students.<\/p>\n

While\u00a0the post-secondary experience is not all about course work<\/a>, completing assignments, writing exams and attending lectures is a big part of students\u2019 daily lives.<\/p>\n

This makes academic courses prime forums where instructors can promote mental health by sharing mental health resources (providing information about student mental health services)\u00a0and<\/em>\u00a0by designing accessible and flexible courses.<\/p>\n

Universities\u2019 commitments to well-being<\/strong><\/h4>\n

There are many opportunities to make post-secondary institutions more accessible, inclusive and health promoting.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s known as\u00a0the Okanagan Charter<\/a>\u00a0is an\u00a0international charter<\/a>\u00a0that outlines language, principles and framework that post-secondary institutions should use to promote health and well-being. Forty-four Canadian post-secondary institutions have taken up aspects of this charter as part of the\u00a0Canadian Health Promoting Campuses Network<\/a>.<\/p>\n