This week the Campus Health team is busy preparing to launch VOICE 4, a research project that looks to increase understanding of how the campus environment affects mental wellbeing.
The VOICE 4 project looks:
- To identify systemic factors influencing the mental wellbeing of the UBC Okanagan campus community, both positive and negative.
- To advance knowledge, act on and educate the campus about the factors identified in the campus health assessment.
This study will contribute to the development of a healthy campus by increasing knowledge that creates, renews and sustain health-promoting community change at UBC Okanagan.
Study results will guide the development of campus policies and practices to support mental wellbeing and further research.
“Attending university can be particularly stressful because of changes in environment, loss or diminished social support, academic pressures, developing new peer relationships, and financial issues,” says Casey Hamilton, campus health specialist and research coordinator of VOICE 4.
These stressors can influence mental health and directly affect academic engagement and achievement.”
Over the coming weeks, the VOICE team will be busy collecting information from faculty, staff and students in several ways — including a short survey containing open-ended questions, individual semi-structured interviews, and collecting photos about campus wellbeing through the eyes of the campus community.
VOICE 4 is looking for study participants and co-researchers. To get involved or find out more, visit campushealth.ok.ubc.ca or email casey.hamilton@ubc.ca.
