The Nass Mental Health Initiative at Syracuse University's Martin J. Whitman School of Business is funded by a $500,000 gift from alumni donors David and Dinah Nass.
Marketing, finance, supply chain dynamics, and…well-being? Mental health may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of business research, but leaders at Syracuse University's Martin J. Whitman School of Management say… We believe the two are closely related. That's why, with the support of donors, they have launched a new initiative to support student professional development in this field.
“As we prepare our students for lifelong professional success, we equip them with more than the skills that will help them cope with the personal challenges they, or their friends, families, and teammates, face. I can't think of a more important skill to offer that you're going to have to face,” says Whitman College interim dean Alexander McKelvey.
what is that: According to McKelvey, this “positive” initiative will help Whitman students in three ways. This means preparing them for the significant obstacles they will face in the industry, supporting them in finding and supporting others when faced with challenges, and developing the core of their students holistically. Whitman's big goal is to strengthen not only the technical his skills that many business programs emphasize, but also the skills previously known as his soft he skills.
The program includes or will include undergraduate and graduate coursework, expert guest speakers, symposia, and technology.
McKelvey says issues related to mental health need to be addressed, including work-life balance, stress, anxiety, and dealing with rejection and burnout. “For students, it can lead to a more fulfilling life and a more rational view of success.”
Donor support: Whitman's mental health efforts, previously known as the Nass Mental Health Initiative, were funded by a $500,000 gift from alumni donors David and Dinah Nass. ing. In an announcement about the initiative last year, David Nass, head of finance at UBS Investment Bank, said that Mental Health Awareness aims to “educate students and business professionals about mental health awareness and destigmatize mental health issues.” “It's extremely important to get rid of it.” The program's goal is to provide students and graduates with “tools and resources to cope with daily stressors, maintain healthy relationships, and recognize if and when they need to seek support.” is.
Such skills, combined with the ability to make informed decisions, “can provide the opportunity to live a healthy and happy life while enjoying a fulfilling career,” he added.
McKelvie explains that mental health is becoming more of a priority in the financial sector. For example, Goldman Sachs introduced a Mental Health First Aid program in the U.S. in 2022, certifying its employees as “MHFAiders,” similar to peer mental health programs employed by universities. The company recently announced that it hopes to complete training for 1,000 employees by the end of 2024.
Dina Nas, a psychology major at Syracuse University, previously worked as a substance abuse counselor and understands the pressure and stigma that can come with mental health issues in the workplace, according to information from the university.
The development of mental health initiatives also supports the creation of the university's undergraduate and master's level public health and business programs within the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics on campus.
What is needed: “This is a useful initiative,” McKelvey said, pointing to the various statistics that working professionals are constantly on and the downstream effects it can have, such as chronic stress, burnout, and depression. “One thing is becoming increasingly clear.” He added: “It doesn't seem like this crisis is going away anytime soon. In fact, it seems like it's getting worse — or at least people are talking about it more.”
Whitman College has long emphasized “intangibles” in its curricular and co-curricular programming to help students deal with their own problems as well as those of their teammates, McKelvie continued. . Modern management is no longer a command-and-control, barking-order style. It is more in tune with helping others do well as a coach. We are looking for a boss who understands us, including our personal conflicts.”
Helping students become better, more empathetic leaders who can connect with their teams and adjust their style for better results ultimately leads to increased employee satisfaction, This could lead to lower turnover rates and fewer work-related problems due to stress and burnout, he says.
How the program works: Mr McKelvey said previous Nasu Mental Health Initiatives have included:
- Data collection and benchmarking against national statistics on mental health
- Workshop on happiness and defining life goals and priorities
- Training for faculty and staff to identify students in distress
- Whitman Wellness Week
- wellness resource fair
- Forming an advisory group of faculty, staff, and alumni experts to help guide future programming and priorities
Additional speakers and workshops are planned, including during Public Health Week events in April. McKelvey said he has seen at least one proposal for a new course related to the initiative and has heard discussions about curriculum programming, including among student leadership groups.
Feedback from students so far has shown the initiative is welcome and timely, McKelvie added. He and his colleagues also believe the initiative is partly responsible for Whitman's increase in applications, as both students and their parents “see this as valuable training.”
How do you fund curriculum alignment initiatives that support student well-being and lifelong success? tell me.
