Mantra Health Unveils Beacon: A New Era in Student Mental Health Support for Colleges

In an important advancement for mental health support in higher education, Mantra Health has announced the launch of Beacon, a pioneering persistence intelligence platform. This innovative solution is designed to enhance student mental well-being, persistence, and overall success, fundamentally transforming how institutions respond to student needs.

The Purpose of Beacon

Founded with the mission to promote student well-being, Mantra Health recognizes the increasing pressure on today's students. By combining data-driven insights and proactive engagement, Beacon aims to prevent academic dropouts and foster a supportive environment within learning institutions.

Named after the steadfast light that guides those lost at sea, Beacon symbolizes hope and assurance for students facing various challenges. According to Matt Kennedy, CEO and Co-founder of Mantra Health, "Building an infrastructure for actionable risk identification is extremely challenging, and very few institutions have the resources to develop the real-time tools needed for data-informed decisions. Beacon removes that barrier."

How Beacon Works

The implementation of Beacon is built upon 18 months of meticulous research and application development. This platform facilitates timely identification of students at risk of dropping out by deploying a semi-annual well-being assessment. Participating institutions can choose to administer this assessment to specific cohorts, such as first-year students or graduate students, ensuring targeted support for those who need it the most.

Unlike traditional screening methods, which can take months to yield actionable insights, Beacon combines holistic wellness assessments with institutional data, delivering a dynamic and real-time overview of student requirements. This enhanced visibility allows university leadership to make strategic decisions regarding student support and retention initiatives swiftly.

Collaborating with The Jed Foundation (JED)

In line with Mantra Health’s commitment to improving mental health among students, the platform will benefit from the advisory services of the Jed Foundation, a prominent non-profit advocate for emotional health and suicide prevention in the youth sector. Dr. Tony Walker, Senior Vice President of School Programs and Consulting at JED, emphasizes the importance of shifting from a reactive to a proactive approach, stating, "Early detection and connection to resources are vital to promote emotional and mental health."

JED’s extensive experience, having collaborated with over 550 colleges, high schools, and school districts over the past 25 years, will play a crucial role in guiding the implementation of Beacon and maximizing its efficacy.

Transformative Outcomes of Pilot Programs

Already, Beacon has showcased impressive results. A pilot program launched at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) yielded a nearly 39% completion rate for first-time, full-year students, helping to identify those at a heightened risk of dropping out. Based on the insights gained, NJIT developed a six-part workshop series focused on improving persistence and conducted personalized outreach to high-risk students.

Sean Dowd, MSW and Senior Associate Dean of Students at NJIT, noted, "With Beacon, we are demonstrating care and providing students the chance to voice concerns about their academic journey, while ensuring they receive personalized resources to support their persistence."

Future Directions for Beacon

Moving forward, Mantra Health envisions expanding Beacon’s capabilities further with the integration of predictive analytics and AI technologies. These enhancements will enable institutions to transition from merely identifying at-risk students to implementing automated intervention strategies tailored to individual needs. By aligning student requirements with institutional resources, Beacon aspires to forecast which student interventions will best promote well-being and retention.

As higher education grapples with the increasing need for mental health support, Beacon emerges as a transformative resource. By adopting a proactive approach to student well-being, this platform aims to significantly boost retention rates and ensure that students persist towards graduation, ultimately benefiting both the students and the institutions.

In conclusion, Mantra Health's Beacon stands as a pioneering step toward revolutionizing the landscape of student support in higher education. For further insights, explore the comprehensive case study on the NJIT pilot program to see how Beacon is shaping the future of student mental health care.

About Mantra Health

Mantra Health is a digital mental health provider dedicated to enhancing student well-being through a range of clinical and non-clinical services designed for higher education environments. Serving over 1.3 million students across over 150 colleges and universities, Mantra Health continues to redefine student success and mental health management. For more information, visit mantrahealth.com.

About The Jed Foundation (JED)

The Jed Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on safeguarding emotional health and preventing suicide among young adults. By collaborating with various organizations, JED aims to strengthen mental health initiatives and equip youth with practical skills for self-care. To learn more, visit jedfoundation.org.