A holistic approach to campus well-being: Steps to Leaps at Purdue University

Int J Community Wellbeing. 2021;4(4):647-668. doi: 10.1007/s42413-021-00147-1. Epub 2021 Nov 25.

Abstract

In response to the increasing demand of mental health solutions, Purdue University launched the Steps to Leaps initiative in 2019 to promote student well-being. It provided the tools and resources to build students' resilience skills and establish lifelong habits to help them realize their personal definitions of success. Working collaboratively with students, faculty, and front- line staff, the initiative identified five pillars, to address these concerns: well-being, leadership/professional development, impact, networks and grit. This article briefly outlined the program implementation and provides relevant theoretical frameworks in a case study format. It then summarized twelve key lessons learned from the two years of practice and concluded with a community perspective.

Keywords: Higher education; Intervention program; Mental health; Resilience; Student well-being.