Abstract
Mental health challenges among college students have escalated to what some now call a national crisis, with 76% of students reporting moderate or severe psychological distress, according to a 2023 study. As Associate Director of the Humanities Program at Revelle College, UC San Diego, which serves approximately 5,000 students, I have observed this trend firsthand. Since 2015, our college has seen a 537% increase in students of concern—those whose academic progress is impacted by their well-being. While the university has expanded mental health services, these efforts have struggled to meet growing demand. My proposal explores how the humanities can support students’ mental health by fostering psychological well-being, self-compassion, and emotional resilience—both through course content and classroom experiences. As many educators at public institutions would attest, the cultural emphasis on prioritizing technical skills, particularly in STEM, has disconnected students from deeper motivations for learning. This utilitarian approach equates success with output rather than personal growth. In contrast, the humanities engage students with questions of meaning, identity, and value, helping them reconnect with a sense of purpose and shared belonging. The humanities lay a foundation for mutual understanding and personal growth, which can support students’ well-being in addition to their professional development. Using examples of instructional activities and student responses, I demonstrate how the humanities classroom can proactively address mental health challenges. Additionally, I explore how my approaches align with a broader initiative to integrate credit-based courses on sustainable well-being as a preventative mental health strategy across departments.
Presenters
Kristina MarkmanAssociate Director/Associate Teaching Professor, Humanities Program, Revelle College, UC San Diego, California, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Past and Present in the Humanistic Education
KEYWORDS
Mental Health, Public Universities, Personal Development, Belonging, Preventative, Sustainable Well-Being
