NEW YORK CITY — New York University launched a campus initiative to integrate clinical well-being services with career services and established a mobile-device-restricted zone. Zoe Ragouzeos, vice president for student mental health and well-being at the university, said this initiative addresses student loneliness and mental health needs.
The effort comes as former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has publicly discussed a student loneliness epidemic. Ragouzeos said that as it relates to mental health needs, the institution must take into account the fact that stigma has significantly decreased over the last 20 years. Different university positions carry distinct responsibilities regarding student well-being support. The university partnered its clinical well-being services with its career services office to integrate wellness support into career guidance. The university trained career coaches in de-escalation techniques and communication strategies for managing student stress and time.
Clinical staff at the university produced instructional videos on stress management for career counselors to use during student meetings. Ragouzeos noted that career coaches interact with more students than those who come through clinical services, and rightly so. Institutional responses to student loneliness should involve addressing individual cases alongside broader systemic programming. This collaboration allows wellness support to reach students who might not seek clinical help directly.
The university also established a campus area where mobile device usage is restricted to encourage face-to-face student interaction. The restricted zone is designed to foster in-person connections among the student body. Ragouzeos said the isolation that comes from the online world is something students need to be educated about, and that it can be combatted. She also stated that "AI, social media and the internet have resulted in more loneliness for our students." Ragouzeos added, "Partnering and co-creating with students as leaders and advisers, rather than treating them solely as service recipients, represents an effective institutional response to well-being challenges."