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The University of Kentucky is boosting its support resources for students with the rollout of five new apps designed to improve mental health and well-being. The goal: to make it easier for students to access the resources available to them, according to a university news announcement.

"Our hope with these apps is that we put mental health resources, quite literally, in the palms of students for them to use them when the need arises," said Corrine Williams, acting associate vice president for student wellbeing at UK, in a statement. "We understand that there are a variety of barriers to accessing mental health resources for our students and these new partnerships are aimed at decreasing those obstacles and increasing student well-being."

In a recent national survey of students ages 18-25, 95% of respondents agreed that mental health has an impact on the quality of their coursework. Students reported challenges with anxiety (cited by 61% of respondents), feeling overwhelmed (55%), trouble concentrating and studying (51%), loneliness (49%) and depression (47%). And 49% admitted that they have not utilized the mental or emotional health supports available to them.


To help provide more proactive support to students, UK is adding the following apps to its portfolio of mental health services:

TogetherAll, an online community that allows students to share feelings anonymously and support one another, monitored by licensed and registered mental health practitioners;
Headspace, a set of meditation and mindfulness tools for relaxation, stress management and feeling more centered and rested;
Kognito, a training simulation accessible through the Canvas learning management system that helps students, faculty and staff recognize signs of mental health issues and learn how to communicate with and refer at-risk students;
Therapy Assistance Online, a library of educational sessions, exercises and tools covering common mental health topics; and
WellTrack, a suite of self-help therapy tools and courses based on aspects of cognitive behavioral therapy.
In addition, the university's Counseling Center offers groups, workshops, short-term counseling and more to help students with mental health or other concerns.

By Rhea Kelly