OSU Wellness trains faculty and staff to support student mental health

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Media Contact: Page Mindedahl | Communications Specialist | 405-744-9782 | page.mindedahl@okstate.edu

The Department of Wellness in collaboration with University Counseling Services, the Office of Student Support and the Center for Family Resilience at Oklahoma State University is wrapping up its third cohort of the Student Support Certification Program — an initiative designed to train faculty and staff to recognize, respond to and support students facing mental health challenges.

The program launched in fall 2024 and has trained more than 125 employees across three cohorts. Each session is capped at 50 participants to encourage small-group discussion and hands-on learning.

“This really started as a passion project,” said Ryane Draper, assistant director of health education in the Department of Wellness. “We were discussing gaps in support for students and how we can strategically train faculty and staff to help close those gaps. From there, the idea came to life.”

The certification blends mental health education with practical tools, helping participants navigate difficult conversations with confidence. While the core curriculum covers topics such as adverse childhood experiences, crisis response and student support resources, the program also offers elective sessions for deeper discussion.

“We wanted something that was heavily focused on mental health, but not just mental health facts,” Draper said. “We thought the idea of support would resonate and benefit students in real, lasting ways.”

Instead of a lecture format, participants sit in small groups and work through case studies and scenarios. That interactive model, Draper said, helps people go beyond theory.

“I can give as many presentations as I want,” she said. “But if you're not given the opportunity to practice what you’d say in those situations, it leaves you wondering, ‘Could I actually do it?’”

Dr. Todd Misener, OSU’s assistant vice president of student affairs and chief wellness officer, said the program reflects a larger goal: building a culture of care across campus.

“We want our employees to see themselves as part of the solution,” he said. “Because research shows that most people don’t go to a counselor when they need help — they go to someone they know.”

Misener added that building a culture of support among OSU’s faculty and staff creates consistency and sustainability, especially given the student body’s constant turnover.

“Students are here for a few years and then they move on,” he said. “But our employee base is steady. That’s where a lasting culture of compassion and support can grow.”

Interest in the program has far exceeded expectations. The first cohort had a waitlist of over 100 people, and organizers are now planning to add a fourth cohort in the coming semesters. Draper and Misener are also exploring ways to adapt the training for branch campuses and even for student leaders.

“We’ve had interest from graduate assistants, student employees, even student organization leaders,” Draper said. “So we’re looking at ways to turn this into a peer-to-peer conversation, too and create a network of certified individuals across campus.”

Though still in early stages, initial feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Faculty and staff say the training has helped them understand how they can make an impact, whether in a classroom or simply in passing.

“People have told us, ‘I didn’t realize how much I could do to help,’” Draper said. “That realization that their role matters is one of the most powerful outcomes we’ve seen.”