Contact: Patricia Lamiell, lamiell@tc.columbia.edu, 973-449-7086, or Johanna Hernandez, jhernandez@skdknick.com
New York—The Spirituality Mind Body Institute (SMBI) at Teachers College, Columbia University hosted the Awakened Campus Summit: Spirituality and Mental Health for College Students, on Friday, April 1. This landmark online gathering, which had a registration of more than 600 education leaders, addressed the current mental health crisis in young adults, including depression, suicidality, and addiction, and the resulting opportunity to foster wellness through campus-based support for student spiritual development, growth and renewal. The science on spirituality in mental health, and the current use of this science by leading institutions in the United States, informed and guided university leaders towards developing initiatives in their own institutions. Seed grants are to be awarded by SMBI, Teachers College to college leaders who make use of the science of spirituality and mental health to improve the spiritual lives of their students.
The virtual summit was hosted by clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Miller, Professor of Psychology and Education and founder of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute at Teachers College. Keynote speakers included the Rev. Dr. Que English, Director of Center for Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Chaplain (Major General) Thomas L.Solhjem, U.S. Army Chief of Chaplains and Major General in the Pentagon; Col. Sam Preston, Chief of Behavioral Health Division Office of the Army Surgeon General; and Chris Brice, M.A., Chief Development Officer of Northwestern Mutual.
Peer-reviewed research conducted over the last two decades reveals that spirituality is foundational to the development of the emerging adult into a whole person. Spirituality exists within and outside of religious tradition; many people of religious faith identify as being intensely spiritual, and many people consider themselves to be very spiritual but not religious. A contemporary research-driven, mental health and wellness system must be present to support spiritual growth. The research also finds that late adolescents and emerging adults experience a “biological clock” that triggers a desire to answer spiritual questions. Young adults with strong spiritual personalities are 80% less likely to form addictions and 60%-80% less likely to attempt suicide. This hard-wired, existential and spiritual emergence often brings emotional struggle and even developmental depression, especially now, in a time of broad social upheaval.
“Hundreds of scientific, peer-reviewed articles have found that a strong spiritual awareness protects against the most prevalent forms of inner suffering and mental health issues: addiction, depression and even suicidality,” said Dr. Miller. “The data has also shown spirituality can serve as a tool to help address the mental health crisis facing students and young adults today. College students are in a developmental phase of rapid spiritual growth, highly impacted by genuine support and the lived spirituality of trusted adults. In truth, to a college student, deans, faculty, coaches, counselors, chaplains, are all ambassadors of a way to live and be in the world. College can be not merely a place of academic or professional advancement, but a place where students can establish a deep foundation for a meaningful, whole life that relies on a strong spiritual core. The summit provided faculty leaders with the knowledge and tools to foster the development of a spiritual core in our youth.”
The summit explored strategies for navigating grief with the discussion “Witnessing Brokenness: Strategies for Accompanying Grief & Loss and Advancing Spiritual Resilience,” while the discussion titled, ”Expansion of Belief Systems in the Classroom Through the Integration of Psychology & Spirituality,” emphasized the importance of integrating science into explorations of spirituality.
“Our youth are in crisis, and the pandemic has taken an even greater toll on students’ mental health,” said the Rev. Dr. English during her discussion on the importance of spirituality. “Spirituality can serve as a steady foundation to help support young adults in navigating today’s trying issues.”
As the U.S. Army’s Chief of Chaplains, Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Solhjem has had firsthand insight into how young adults struggle with mental health, and in championing Dr. Miller’s work and bringing it to the US military. “Our society is suffering. We don’t talk enough about the isolation, the suicides, and the clinical depression.” Solhjem added, “We’re bringing the science of spirituality to the Army through the lens of Dr. Miller to enculturate this into everything we do.”
SMBI’s mission is to generate and use science to guide a more spiritually supportive society and bring research, practice and leadership into the formation of partnerships aimed at meaningful system change. SMBI is working with the U.S. Military, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, K-12 schools and higher education, environmental initiatives, and private and non-profit organizations. Its work continues to develop evidence-based science that examines the effects of spirituality across the lifespan, including spirituality as a protective factor against mental illness, a source of resilience in cultivating relationships, and as a gateway to personal fulfillment.
The live streamed event is archived and available for viewing on:
https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/play/AGDIUW2ZwbuwTojpekglZeiavcieZKiaTcM87Byh0ZBccrnmZvAa9ebn2FEUOlNk2EBoM0aBoWnh1cQZ.yiLAjayBmon97tAb
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About Teachers College, Columbia University: Founded in 1887, Teachers College, Columbia University, the first and largest graduate school of education in the United States, is perennially ranked among the nation’s best. Teachers College’s mission is to create a smarter, healthier, and more equitable and peaceful world. Teachers College engages in research and prepares professionals in its three main areas of expertise—education, health and psychology— to work with public and private entities in local, national and global communities and inform public policy. Students choose from among 150 separate programs to earn graduate degrees, which are conferred by Columbia University. While it is closely affiliated with Columbia University and collaborates with it on many programs, the College is an independent, autonomous institution with a separate, independent governing board, president, and financial endowment.
The Spirituality Mind Body Institute exists to integrate spiritual life into our society - in our institutions, in our boardrooms, our classrooms, and our homes. Our SMBI team works to contribute towards a more loving, spiritually aware, and positive society. Our professionals collaborate on all levels of society, working with communities, business leaders, organizational and educational consultants, and policy makers to see into a more life-giving way of making decisions.