Supporting student psychological well-being in the I-O psychology classroom

Abstract

In the face of growing evidence of increasing mental health issues in university students and growing demand for campus counseling services (Lipson etal , 2019), we suggest that this is an area in which our I-O psychology knowledge can also provide important benefits to our student body Conclusion In this commentary, we have argued that the practice of teaching I-O psychology needs to address issues of student psychological well-being and suggested three areas of focus for consideration: (a) reducing the stigma of mental illness, (b) increasing students’ mindfulness, and (c) improving the prevention and management of stress within the academic context Pay attention to and model use of nonstigmatizing language Include discussions that prompt students to understand their own stigma Exposure to a formal mental illness stigma reduction intervention Include the concept of mindfulness in teaching materials Recommend local options for participation in mindfulness training Embed active experimentation with mindfulness practices within courses Ensure that students’ workload is realistic and manageable;allow flexibility in assessment submission Incorporate teamwork activities to build social support networks Implement cultural change that emphasizes the value of student well-being Corresponding author