Students still have time to complete an online survey that will help Texas A&M University-San Antonio enhance mental health resources on campus.
The anonymous “Healthy Minds Study,” a research initiative from the University of Michigan, is open to all students over the age of 18, said Dr. Mary Buzzetta, director of A&M-San Antonio’s Student Counseling Center and co-chair of the Student Wellness Committee.
The study officially closes April 25, Buzzetta said. The committee on March 28 sent students a JagWire email from healthyminds-tamusanantonio@umich.edu to access the study. Students received reminders in April, including a final one scheduled for April 18.
Amber Graham, assistant director of recreational sports, co-chair of the Student Wellness Committee, said the survey data will provide an insight on students’ mental health, which can be used to improve mental health services on campus.
“All responses are submitted anonymously, thus giving you greater peace of mind in expressing your concerns,” Graham said.
Survey topics include substance use, sleep, sexual assault, general health, academic proficiency, financial stress, peer support, and eating and body Image, according to the Healthy Minds Network website.
“The responses to the questionnaire will help professionals determine mental health. According to the website, this same study will help the university access valuable information to make decisions about mental health programs and resources on campus,” Graham said.
“It’s an opportunity for students to say how they feel,” she said.
Student Andrea Ramirez described her personal experience participating in the study.
“Even though they were personal questions, I felt comfortable because of the format and the anonymity,” Ramirez said.
Ramirez said students should take the survey so the university can offer them more support.
“It is important because the students can see that the university takes care of their mental health and needs, and also because it helps to know if the services are working or if any service needs to be improved,” she said.
The survey is designed to protect privacy and confidentiality.
“Something that could help improve the service of the questionnaire would be to put more open answers to give students the opportunity to express themselves more freely,” she said
“What I liked is that in some questions it gave you the option to ‘prefer not to answer,’” Ramirez said.
Students who complete the survey will be entered in a drawing for a $25 gift card redeemable at the bookstore.
For more information, email saa@tamusa.edu.
This story was updated at 6:14 p.m. April 15 to add the study’s official closing date.
