Post-Secondary Student Barriers, Belongingness, and Well-Being: Informing Campus Mental Health Strategy Through Student Perspectives

Over the last two decades, there has been a substantial increase in higher education attainment in Canada. Although this is a positive thing, as post-secondary education comes with various benefits, it is important to recognize that the stress of this transitionary period has been shown to place young adults at a higher risk for mental disorders, particularly anxiety and depression. Personal, circumstantial, and societal barriers can also negatively impact student experience. Connection and sense of belonging have been identified as essential mitigating factors with student, faculty, and campus support, decreasing challenges and improving overall academic success. The current qualitative study gathered post-pandemic student perspectives through focus group discussions about challenges and institutional supports at Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP). Findings from this project will be used to inform the RDP Mental Health Strategy for the years 2024-2027. Thematic analysis by two independent coders revealed four overarching themes: (1) financial challenges and frustrations, (2) accessing supports, (3) faculty and program; and (4) connection and campus climate. Implications of these findings are discussed along with possible actionable steps for better supporting student success and well-being.