This case study was first developed in 2018; the data reflects that timeline.
The University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) serves a large residential student population, and for many of these students, college is the first time they’ve lived away from home. It brings many exciting changes — and its fair share of challenges.
In 2016, UCSC started a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) pilot program. Since then, it’s grown to a campuswide initiative, providing students with the support they need.
In the 2016-2017 academic year, UCSC served:
16,328
undergraduate students
1,735
graduate students
9,200+
of teens don’t seek help for their mental students living on campus
A large residential student population requires support. UCSC relies on residential counselors (RCs), who often serve as the first point of contact for students experiencing stress, adjustment challenges or mental health concerns.
To better equip them with the skills they need to help, UCSC now requires all incoming RCs to complete MHFA training. Since the success of RC MHFA training, the university has expanded to training other campus members, including students, academic advisors, faculty, and fire and police chiefs.
From a Small Pilot to a University-wide Mandate
The MHFA initiative at UCSC began as a small pilot program at Porter College, one of the university’s 10 residential colleges. The effort was led by Michael Yamauchi-Gleason, a college administrative officer and certified MHFA Instructor.
Recognizing that RCs are uniquely positioned to identify early warning signs of mental health challenges, Yamauchi-Gleason saw the value of equipping them with MHFA as a practical, evidence-based tool to respond effectively when students are in distress.
Yamauchi-Gleason partnered with Kathy Cooney, associate college administrative officer, who also became a MHFA Instructor. Together, they trained all 52 Porter College RCs in MHFA.
The effort was driven by growing concerns about student mental health. RCs regularly interact with students who are navigating major life transitions, often for the first time without their established support systems.
“We’d seen increased depression, suicidal ideation and self-medication on campus,” Cooney said.
“We wanted to break through the stigma and create an environment where it was OK for students to say they needed help.”
As more RCs were trained at Porter College, the program gained greater visibility across the university. Eventually, it got the attention of the executive vice chancellor, who mandated MHFA training for all 230 RCs across UCSC’s residential colleges.
Beyond Residential Life
The impact of MHFA training soon extended beyond RCs. As the number of people certified in MFHA increased, so did its popularity. And demand remains high.
“We fill our classes up and still have a waiting list,” Cooney said. “Our staff has an interest in being committed to students, so many professional staff and faculty are choosing to participate even though they are not required to.”
To keep up with the demand, the university trained seven other staff members as MHFA Instructors, investing in a sustainable mental wellbeing strategy.
MHFA’s influence has even reached academic programming: Aspiring teachers in UCSC’s graduate program for education are now required to take Youth MHFA to acquire a teaching certificate.
Measurable Outcomes and Results of Mental Health First Aid
Follow-up surveys conducted after MHFA trainings show clear benefits. Participants report feeling more confident in their ability to recognize signs of mental health challenges, more comfortable initiating conversations, and better equipped to support individuals experiencing mental health crises.
“There has been this trickle-down effect that has positively impacted culture around mental health on campus. We have a lot of active mental health champions on campus as a result of participating in the training.” — Kathy Cooney, Associate College Administrative Officer, UCSC
Future Direction of Mental Health First Aid
While MHFA training is now mandatory for incoming RCs, UCSC’s long-term goal is to expand access to the broader student population. Given steadily increasing demand, the university is exploring strategies to support program growth. These include increasing funding for MHFA manuals and training materials and allocating dedicated work time for Instructors, rather than relying on volunteer efforts.
With executive-level support, on-the-ground passion, a growing Instructor base and demonstrated impacts on both skills and campus culture, UCSC’s MHFA program continues to evolve from a targeted pilot into a cornerstone of the university’s approach to student wellbeing.
