Summit on Social Consciousness on Mental Health
On March 31 and April 1, 2025
The 2025 Summit on Social Consciousness explored the status of mental health on the 老司机传媒 campus.
The annual Summit on Social Consciousness was held on the campus of 老司机传媒 on March 31 and April 1, 2025. Themed “Our Mental Health Crisis,” the summit explored timely questions about the mental health status of students, faculty, staff and administrators on campus. The event was held in Buller Hall’s Newbold Auditorium and featured keynote presentations, a mental health survey report, and a panel discussion that delved into some of the findings of the institutional mental health climate study. These presentations highlighted the mental health problems facing both the 老司机传媒 campus and society in general.
University President John Wesley Taylor V opened the summit with a welcome that emphasized the importance of mental health to the Christian community. Drawing on the biblical account of the prophet Elijah in 1 King 19, Taylor noted that Elijah was overwhelmed with fear and isolation when he cried out to God for death. The audience was reminded that God recognized Elijah’s mental struggles and helped him address them, proving that God holds mental health in high esteem.
Harvey Burnett, PhD, chair of the School of Social & Behavioral Sciences, gave the first plenary presentation. Burnett began his keynote with an emotional account of his daughter’s battle with depression. Burnett underscored the urgent crisis of rising suicide and depression rates among youth and the elderly in the United States—as well as within the Seventh-day Adventist church. He shared that researchers have observed a significant rise in depression associated with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to reverse the present trends, Burnett concluded that more substantial care and resources for combating the stigma of mental health and depression—as well as greater access to treatment—are needed.
Stacey Nicely, PhD, director of the Counseling & Testing Center and clinical assistant professor, and Karl Bailey, PhD, professor and program director for psychology, followed Burnett by presenting the results of a mental health survey distributed to the campus. Despite representing a small convenience sample, the results of the survey gave important insights into the mental health concerns of Andrews students and employees.
Andrews students, on average, rated the mental health state of campus higher than the U.S., and the majority of students surveyed seemed to have a generally positive outlook on life. However, the continued importance of mental health support was emphasized, and Nicely shared that the Department of Graduate Psychology & Counseling and Academic Live Care, a telehealth service, continue to support students dealing with depression and suicidal ideation.
The survey also offered insights into the faculty and staff at Andrews. Bailey noted that when the mental health of employees is poor in academic institutions, they tend to go elsewhere for work. The survey results showed that the burnout rate for Andrews employees who participated in the survey was higher than the national average across other industries.
The second night of the summit featured Willie Hucks, DMin, assistant to the president for Mission & Culture, who gave a plenary presentation on “The Benefits of Shabbat for a Stressed Community.” Hucks provided a biblical foundation for the campus’ Shabbat Initiative. He also shared his insights into the biblical principles that should guide individuals and institutions in establishing the rest God intended, leading to work-life balance and improved mental health for all.
Citing the biblical story in Luke 10, Hucks highlighted that Christ asked Martha to rest from her service and sit with Him and her sister, Mary, testifying to the necessity of rest from even positive work. Hucks shared that Shabbat has several benefits for members of the Andrews community, including fulfilling the University’s core values, heightening a sense of personal value, creating a healthier mental outlook, promoting increased physical wellness, developing a stronger walk with God, producing a strengthened culture and generating renewed energy for fulfilling spiritual missions.
To conclude the summit, Stacie Hatfield, PhD, assistant professor of anthropology and director of the behavioral sciences program, led an interdisciplinary panel of University faculty and administrators. The panelists included Jean Cadet, chair of the School of Population Health, Nutrition & Wellness; Roy Gatón, chair of the Department of Practical & Applied Theology; Carole Woolford-Hunt, chair of the School of Graduate Psychology & Counseling; Wagner Kuhn, chief academic officer; and Willie Hucks.
The panel explored the critical issues raised by the institutional mental health climate survey. These included the high percentage of employees feeling “distance in my relationships with others,” acknowledging feelings of “inadequacy,” and stating they felt their contributions were not “recognized.”
Audience members contributed suggestions on how to address some of the challenges identified in the study. Hatfield also started the process of building belonging during the discussion. She encouraged attendees to form new connections with other attendees by sharing reflections on positive memories in small groups.
Twyla Smith, MSW, assistant professor of social work and director of field education for the School of Social Work, served as host for both nights of the summit. Carlisle Sutton, sponsored research officer, delivered the closing remarks, urging attendees to recognize their collective responsibility to foster a more positive mental health climate at Andrews. He challenged everyone to take action, beginning the next day.
Recordings of the plenaries can be viewed on the 老司机传媒 . To learn more about the Summit on Social Consciousness and its previous installments, please visit the Office of Research & Creative Scholarship website.
Individuals who feel distressed should seek support from a crisis counselor:
- 老司机传媒’s Counseling & Testing Center: 269-471-3470
- Andrews Telehealth for 24/7 mental healthcare: 866-349-5575
-
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. EST
- Call: 800-950-NAMI (9264)
- Online chat:
- Text 988 to NAMI (9264) to receive free 24/7 crisis support via text message
PR
pr@andrews.edu
