Inquiring Mind Post-Secondary

The Practice:  The Inquiring Mind Post-Secondary is an education-based program that addresses mental health and well-being in post-secondary students. It was adapted from the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s evidence-based program, The Working Mind. The Inquiring Mind Post-Secondary was created with the input of students, as well as staff and faculty with mental health-related expertise. Using a flexible four-module workshop format, the program covers three main components: stigma reduction, resiliency skills, and the Mental Health Continuum Model.  The stigma reduction component uses the best practice of contact-based education where post-secondary students, via videos, discuss their experiences with stigma, mental health and substance use, and the recovery process. Program participants learn evidence-based coping skills that will help increase resiliency and help students manage stress and challenging events. Termed “The Big 4”, these skills include deep breathing, self-talk, mental rehearsal, and SMART goal setting. The final main component of the program is the Mental Health Continuum Model. This model reconceptualises how one thinks and talks about mental health by using signs and indicators of good to poor mental health under a four-colour continuum. Beyond these main components, participants learn about creating a supportive campus and how to support others who may be experiencing poor or declining mental health. The program is designed to be interactive with activities and group discussions, as well as a set of scenarios for participants to work through.

The Evidence: The Inquiring Mind Post-Secondary was piloted at 16 post-secondary institutions across Canada. The pilot demonstrated positive results for resiliency, stigma reduction, and other mental health-related outcomes. Results from this research can be found here: https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2021.2007112.

Practice Category: Promising

If you are interested in delivering and evaluating this practice at your campus, please contact the Mental Health Commission of Canada