Huskers Keep Growing, a campaign initiated by Big Red Resilience and Well-being, aims to share positive and empowering messages with students across the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
“Recognizing each individual’s worth is important to the campus and our students’ well-being,” said Connie Boehm, director of student resilience. “We hope the positive messages will put a smile on someone’s face and remind them that others care for them.”
Campaign messages focus on recognizing self-worth, taking steps to care for personal well-being and reaching out without fear of stigma. Additionally, it spotlights six current students who share their personal experiences with isolation, adjustment issues and mental health struggles while offering advice to peers.
These messages are well-timed as mental health nationwide continues to be challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic. A Healthy Minds study from April 2020 showed that 80 percent of college students felt COVID-19 negatively impacted their mental health, including increasing feelings of isolation and a lack of connectedness to others.
“The pandemic has exacerbated an ongoing issue and now more than ever we need students need to know that we care and that resources are available to help,” Boehm said.
Online videos are available to show in classes, organization meetings and more. A toolkit with social and digital sign assets is also available.
The Huskers Keep Growing campaign was developed through a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Campaign partners include Student Affairs, Nebraska Public Policy Center, and the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools.
