2 Target Audience

An environmental scan conducted on behalf of BCcampus identified a number of needs regarding the target audiences for mental health and wellness education and training (Moore, 2019). The following information outlines the particular needs for each group.

All Students

The broad audience is all students; however, specific groups were identified for whom a lack of resources is a key issue. International, Indigenous, and graduate students make up these specific groups.

The most notable challenges for students are as follows:

  • Finding the time and effort required to attend and “survive” school
  • Mental load from uncertainty and external pressures
  • Availability of resources that support different barriers
  • Managing multiple demands
  • Building day-to-day resilience (BCcampus, 2020)

Faculty and Staff

The broad audience is all faculty; however, it was noted that frontline staff are in most need of mental health and wellness education and training:

Qualitative interviews revealed that student mental health training for faculty and staff was a gap particularly for sessional faculty and new employees. Furthermore, they highlighted that educating faculty to support student mental health in the classroom was an unmet need.

The environmental scan identified a lack of resources for the following specific groups:

  • TAs/lab assistants and sessionals
  • New hires
  • Frontline staff (e.g., security, coaches, academic advisors, accessibility assessment coordinators, department secretaries)

The most notable challenges for faculty and staff are as follows:

  • Establishing a boundary of responsibility
  • Mental load
  • Clarity in role
  • Clarity around what to do/who to contact if a specific situation arises (BCcampus, 2020, p. 11)

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