Utilizing the Health Belief Model to move post-secondary students toward flourishing mental health

Factors related to the 'typical university experience,' such as high levels of perceived stress and a lack of sleep, negatively affect student mental health. The present study analyzes mental health risk and protective factors from 2,472 respondents gathered through the National College Health Assessment-II survey to inform the development of a mental health program for post-secondary students at an institution in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Students who reported symptoms or diagnoses of anxiety and depression, above or below average stress, and few nights of restful sleep were more likely to be languishing than moderately mentally healthy, while students who reported average levels of stress and three or more restful nights of sleep per week were more likely to be flourishing than moderately mentally healthy. This work draws on the Health Belief Model in developing effective wellness programs to help students move along the mental health continuum toward flourishing.