Answering the Call

Overview

In 2024, the atmosphere in Moscow, Idaho remained heavy. Two years earlier, four University of Idaho students were tragically murdered near campus. The case drew national attention, and as the legal process moved slowly, media coverage and public interest continued. The university community, still grieving, was constantly reminded of its shared loss.

At the same time, higher education nationwide was under strain. Political debates over diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, shrinking research budgets, and everyday pressures — long hours, increasing workloads, and growing student mental health needs — left faculty and staff feeling stretched thin.

To support the wellbeing of its employees, the University of Idaho and its benefits communication consultants, Segal Benz, launched a campaign to promote available mental health resources. As part of this effort, the university introduced a new tool: an easy-to-access digital platform offering evidence-based information, self-assessments, and practices to help faculty and staff strengthen their mental health and wellbeing.

After eleven months of tracking engagement on the platform, the data showed that even during collective grief, higher education institutions can help shift mental health conversations and foster healing.

Engagement at a Glance

Between September 2024 and July 2025, 33% of University of Idaho faculty and staff used the digital mental health platform. They logged 946 sessions, spending an average of more than 13 minutes per visit. Nearly half explored self-help materials, and more than 10% completed a self-assessment.

The most popular topics reflected campus realities: Anxiety, Stress, Burnout, Mindfulness, Flourishing vs. Languishing, PTSD, and even Romantic Relationships. Two simple practices stood out — Box Breathing (a rhythmic breathing exercise for calm) and Tapping (an acupressure-based stress-relief technique) — showing the strong interest in quick, practical ways to self-regulate.

Factors Shaping Engagement

In November 2024, as the campus marked the two-year anniversary of the student murders, engagement increased significantly around trauma-related content. Faculty and staff sought resources on PTSD, grief, stress, and mindfulness.

During a year of intense public debate over higher education policy, many employees also explored topics such as Leadership Under Pressure, Meaning & Purpose, and Workplace Wellness — reflecting a desire for guidance rooted in values and resilience.

Burnout and Quiet Stress

Throughout the year, employees repeatedly turned to resources on burnout, procrastination, ADHD, and resilience. The most-used resource was Tapping to Relieve Anxiety, underscoring how people often seek immediate, self-guided tools to manage stress before turning to professional help.

Lessons Learned

1. Crisis Drives Engagement — But Not Always Help-Seeking
   During high-stress times, employees often use self-guided materials, but fewer reach out for direct support. Making urgent-care resources visible and normalizing help-seeking are essential.
2. Faculty and Staff Are Under Pressure
   Amid policy changes and cultural uncertainty, employees looked for tools to lead with purpose and resilience — signaling the importance of both skill-building and emotional support.
3. Simple Tools Matter
   Brief, accessible practices can have outsized impact. Their popularity highlights how small, practical strategies can sustain wellbeing across a campus community.

Moving Forward

The University of Idaho’s experience shows how closely faculty and staff wellbeing is tied to the broader life of the university. The next step is connecting these self-guided resources with clear, supportive pathways to professional care — so that when everyday stress becomes something deeper, help is easy to find and access.