Faculty Advisor(s)
Dawn Evans
Abstract
The Holistic Health program is a doctoral capstone quality improvement project that aims to increase the quality of life (QoL) and well-being for higher education students and increase staff and faculty knowledge of college students' mental health. Driven through education and program development, the program includes four key action plans. The first action plan was an in-person mindfulness-based program for college students. The second action plan includes a proposal for environmental adaptations to foster a safe and supportive campus environment for students. The third action plan includes expanding ready-to-use wellness and mindfulness resources for higher education students. The fourth and final action plan includes comprehensive education for staff and faculty on the impacts of college students' mental health, as well as evidence-based strategies to help lessen the negative impacts of mental health both inside and outside of the classroom. To further guide this doctoral capstone project, a scoping review was conducted to examine the impacts of mindfulness-based interventions on higher education students. The review also explored the role of occupational therapy (OT) in using these interventions to support students' functioning and overall well-being. Overall, results from the evaluation measures displayed positive outcomes in improving students' ability to manage stress and anxiety, be more mindful individuals, and gain confidence in themselves to cope with everyday stressors to support daily functioning. Holistic Health aligns with evidence-based literature and the needs of the higher education communities, while defining roles in which OT can play a unique part in improving the well-being of higher education settings.
Publication Date
2025
Document Type
Poster
Department
Occupational Therapy
Keywords
mental health, well-being, college students, mindfulness, capstone project, program, education
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Occupational Therapy | Rehabilitation and Therapy
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Fasti, Elizabeth C., "Holistic Health: A Psychosocial Health and Wellness Program for College Students" (2025). Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2025. 20.
https://digitalcommons.misericordia.edu/otd_capstone2025/20