Student Wellbeing Week launches

The third annual Student Wellbeing Week, organized by the Student Wellbeing Council, kicks off Monday with “Friendship & Florals,” an opportunity to create a floral bouquet for yourself or friends and to learn about mental health resources at Harvard. The event will be held from noon to 2 p.m. on the Harvard Law School’s campus lawn.

“Students often feel like they are the only ones struggling and don’t know where to go or who to turn to,” says Hanah Youn ’28, co-chair of the Student Wellbeing Council. “Through Student Wellbeing Week, we’re showing other students that, yes, we understand how you’re feeling, and a lot of us feel the same way. And here’s how to get the support and the resources you need at the University so that you can succeed and feel better.”

Comprised of student representatives from all the Schools, the Student Wellbeing Council is dedicated to supporting a culture of well-being across the University. The council also encourages students to access the resources offered by the University if they need assistance or support.

From April 6-10, students will sponsor food, mocktail bars and panel discussions across the University. Highlights include a well-being talk and panel discussion on Tuesday in Gordon Hall on the Longwood Campus and community yoga on Wednesday in the Yard.

“I’m very excited about the expert talk and panel discussion on Tuesday, which will explore the neurocognitive and psychological dimensions of academic life here at Harvard University, including challenges like imposter syndrome and student mental health and well-being,” says Kandace Chi Wing Chan, co-chair and Harvard Medical School master’s degree student. “The session will feature both a presentation led by experts and a facilitated discussion led by student wellness staff to create an interactive and engaging environment. I hope attendees can learn from the conversation and feel comfortable asking questions about challenges many students face but don’t always openly discuss. We really want these events to help people connect and feel like they belong —because they do.”

Student Wellbeing Week started in 2022 in response to the Report of the Task Force on Managing Student Mental Health, which was released in 2020. At the time, the task force found that “Harvard students are experiencing rising levels of depression and anxiety disorders, and high and widespread levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and other conditions.” One of the recommendations from the report was to create a small team to work across the University on student affairs, with a focus on mental health and well-being.

Robin Glover, associate provost for student affairs, leads that effort, and her team advises and supports the Student Wellbeing Council, especially their preparations for Student Wellbeing Week.

“The students are really motivated to put together these events, and they’re doing all the organizing and raising awareness about the week of activities,” says Glover. “After spring break is a really good time for Student Wellbeing Week because this can be a very difficult time for students, with finals and graduation coming up. So, we want to keep increasing awareness about the available resources and reinforcing that mental health is important.”

This year, Student Wellbeing Week coincides with the University’s We’re ALL Human awareness campaign, an effort to inform the Harvard community of the mental health and well-being resources available to them. Throughout April, flyers, digital signage, and social media posts will highlight specific resources and how to access them.

More information on Student Wellbeing Week events and mental health resources for students, staff, faculty, and researchers is available on Harvard’s Wellbeing website.