The Institute for Adolescent Mental Health and Well-Being at Northwestern is up and running after the University received a $25 million gift in May from an anonymous donor.
Located in the Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences psychology department, the institute houses faculty with academic backgrounds in adolescent development.
Director Vijay Mittal said the institute intends to collaborate with researchers in other departments on their findings on adolescent development and mental health. He said he also wants to introduce guest speakers, starting with a spring visit from University of Virginia Prof. Joseph Allen, an expert with research on social anxiety and imposter syndrome.
From a brain science perspective, Mittal said college students are both adolescents and adults. He said this makes adult decision-making difficult, as their brains aren’t fully developed.
“I’m always interested in adolescence, because I think that’s really a place where vulnerability really starts to unmask,” Mittal said. “You start to see symptoms that get in the way of people not enjoying their lives or reaching the potential they wanted to reach.”
Mittal said these obstacles are especially prevalent among college students, who are navigating changes in their brains and bodies at the same time. However, the institute’s research could help combat these feelings before they become too severe, he said.
Psychology Prof. Jennifer Tackett, a research fellow at the institute, said she is excited to collaborate with Student Affairs to implement these potential strategies.
According to Tackett, one of the Institute’s first studies will look at the psychological development of Northwestern student leaders. This includes helping students develop leadership skills and learning more about their mental health and wellness.
“We know that burnout and stress is a really common negative consequence of leadership roles,” Tackett said.
Vice President of Student Affairs Susan Davis hopes to partner with the institute to create a health and well-being survey for incoming students. She said the survey will most likely be implemented before the incoming class arrives or during Wildcat Welcome and will help guide the institute on future programming and initiatives.
Both Davis and Mittal emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration at the institute. Mittal said the launch is an opportunity to produce new research insights and enhance the student experience on campus.
Davis added that the institute’s faculty are also communicating with global counterparts.
“I really do believe that there’s the ability to have national and global impact,” Davis said.
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