Public Relations Plan for the Execution of:

Northwest Missouri State University Wellness Services “I Will Listen” Event

Maryville, Missouri

Karli Allen, Lacey Casel, Katie Imhoff, Carolyn Kerns, Kayla Meade, & Monica Thornburg
Executive Summary

The Wellness Center is a care center for the staff and students of Northwest Missouri
State University. They are planning an event under the “Hope 4 All” movement called “I
Will Listen”. It’s an event that will talk about mental health, depression, suicide, and
anxiety. There will also be a resource fair happening at the same time of the event so
students can see all of the options that they have on or near campus. The main focus
the Wellness staff wanted us to focus on is an increase in attendance to spread more
awareness about the event and other events like it in the future. Another focus was
working on their social media platforms like Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, and
Facebook. Both primary and secondary research was completed in order to guide the
creation of our goals, strategies, and tactics for the "I Will Listen" event campaign.
Primary research was conducted informally by simply gathering information from fellow
students about their perceptions of Wellness Services. Our team also researched and
analyzed current Wellness Services offerings, including other events, the office's
website, newspaper articles, and social media presence. We also analyzed other
successful events on Northwest Missouri State University's campus in order to gain
perspective on which tactics lead to high attendance numbers on our specific campus.
Secondary research was also conducted by seeking out information on a variety of
topics, including the most effective tactics for increasing attendance of college students
at on-campus events as well as how to effectively promote mental health specific
events. After gathering a substantial amount of information, we were able to use this
research to create realistic goals, develop effective strategies, and form unique tactics
for reaching each key public.After reviewing the current situation and the needs
presented by Wellness Services and Hope4All in relation to the “I Will Listen” campaign,
we established an overall goal of driving more people to mental health resources on
campus. This was then broken down into a series of objectives and key publics. The
objectives directly linked to the “I Will Listen” campaign included increasing attendance
by 50% at the “I Will Listen” event, increasing awareness of diverse mental health
resources available to students by increasing attendance at the resource fair by 50%,
and improving attendance at future Wellness Services events using baseline
attendance at this semester’s “I Will Listen” event. The key publics for our overall goal
were Northwest Missouri State University (NWMSU) Students, NWMSU Faculty, and
Prospective Students of NWMSU.Through this day and age technology is something
that everyone’s lives are centered on. With the tactics that we have chosen, we believe
attendance could improve for the ‘I Will Listen’ event. By using various messages
platforms and messages that we have thought of for this campaign, there will be a
better knowledge on how to not only connect better with the students and the media, but
also make a more impactful and memorable presence in people’s lives.
Situation Analysis/Core Problem:
The current situation analysis for the Wellness Center is they are looking for more
attendance in their upcoming event. The event is called “I Will Listen” which is coming
up in April, and the purpose is to bring light to mental illness. Many survivors and guest
speakers will be featured and they will have a resource fair next door to the event. The
main focus they have asked us to help with is promoting the event and finding the best
ways to get people to attend the event. Our primary focus for the event is their social
media platforms and using their already large audience to our advantage.

Some challenges that we could face are that people with mental illnesses may not feel
comfortable coming to a large event that spotlights these problems. Also, timing is
everything, one of the biggest reasons people don’t come to events is that they can’t get
time off from other responsibilities or activities. Northwest’s campus has many different
social media platforms that have gotten very popular so they could potentially be a
competitor if we don’t use them to our advantage. There are limited resources for this
event, including money, time, and people working so it’s important to utilize every
resource that we have.

Strengths Weaknesses

● Conduct a lot of events ● Directors unable to

● Well established group communicate directly with
● Lots of connections with students
students organizations on ● Traditionally struggle with
campus attendance/timing
● Good tone on social media and ● Limited resources (people, time,
good following money)

Opportunities Threats

● Opportunity to explore ways to ● Timing; letting people know of

increase attendance event
● Diversify ● Relativeness
● Partnering with other ● Stigma around mental health
organizations/departments ● Students who struggle may be
less likely to attend and seek out
services
Goals/Objectives/Key Publics:

After analyzing the current situation and message surrounding Wellness Services and
Hope4All, as well as identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, we
have identified goals, objectives, and key publics for the “I Will Listen” campaign.

Overall Goal: Drive people to mental health resources on campus.

Objectives:

● Increase attendance by 50% at the “I Will Listen” event on April 16

● Increase awareness of diverse mental health resources available to students by
increasing attendance at the resource fair by 50%
● Make the website easier to access by linking the website to the Wellness
Services social media pages
● Improve effectiveness of communication to the students by increasing
promotional efforts and attendance at Wellness Services events (50%)
● Improve relationship with local media by setting up meetings with NW Missourian
staff biweekly and notifying them at least 2 weeks prior to a Wellness Services
event.
● Improve attendance at future Wellness Services events using baseline
attendance at this semester’s “I Will Listen” event
● Stay within a $500 budget when creating promotional materials for the “I Will
Listen” event

Key Publics:

1. Northwest Missouri State University Students:

● Demographic and psychographic profile
a. 18-22
b. Living in Maryville/Nodaway County
c. Pursuing a degree
d. Stress as a student
e. Time of transition
f. Away from family support system
● Motivating self-interests
a. Career success
b. Scholarly success
c. Social interests
d. Internal wellbeing
e. Convenience (time and location)
f. Personal gain
 ● Status of current relationship with the organization and issue
a. Making progress toward ending the stigma around mental health
b. Resources on campus are limited - can lead to negative opinions about
Wellness Services
c. Little interaction with or knowledge of Wellness Services events
d. General lack of knowledge about the science behind mental health
● Third party influentials and other opinion leaders
a. Professors
b. Parents
c. Friends
d. Roommates
e. Siblings
f. Significant others
g. Social media influencers
h. Campus student leaders
i. Existing mental health professionals
● What objectives each public will help you accomplish
a. Increase attendance at the “I Will Listen” event
b. Increase awareness of diverse mental health resources available to
students
c. Improve effectiveness of communication to the students
d. Improve attendance at future Wellness Services events

2. Northwest Missouri State University Faculty:

● Demographic and psychographic profile
a. Middle aged (30-60)
b. Middle class
c. Bachelor's degree (or higher)
d. Interest in student success and mental health
e. “Every student, every day”
● Motivating self-interests
a. Student success
b. Student retention
c. Personal career success
d. Internal wellbeing
e. Convenience
● Status of current relationship with the organization and issue
a. Little to no interaction with Wellness Services events and resources
 b. Making progress toward ending the mental health stigma (progress not as
rapid or advanced as students)
c. Mandated reporter
● Third party influentials and other opinion leaders
a. Supervisors/department heads
b. Family
c. Students
d. Northwest leadership
e. Community leaders
f. Social media
g. Industry peers at other universities
h. Existing mental health professionals
● What objectives each public will help you accomplish
a. Improve effectiveness of communication to the students
b. Increase attendance at the “I Will Listen” event
c. Increase awareness of diverse mental health resources available to
students
d. Improve attendance at future Wellness Services events

3. Prospective Students of Northwest Missouri State University

● Demographic and psychographic profile
a. High school students (under 18) or college-aged transfer student
b. Intends to pursue higher education
c. Interested in attending Northwest
d. Time of transition
e. Future focused
f. Recognizes importance of mental health professionals role in college
experience
● Motivating self-interests
a. Support system
b. Social interests (creating new relationships)
c. Internal wellbeing
d. Career success
e. Scholarly success
● Status of current relationship with the organization and issue
a. Little to no interaction with Wellness Services events and resources
b. Knowledge of mental health offerings at other campuses
c. Progress in ending the stigma around mental health
 d. Introducing independence and ownership for mental and physical
wellbeing
e. Searching for outlets and resources surrounding mental health
● Third party influentials and other opinion leaders
a. Current friends
b. Roommate perspectives
c. Family/parents
d. Significant others
e. Social media
f. High school counselor
g. Teachers
h. Existing mental health professionals
● What objectives each public will help you accomplish
a. Increase awareness of diverse mental health resources available to
students
b. Improve attendance at future Wellness Services events
c. Improve effectiveness of communication to the students

Messages/Strategies/Tactics:

Our messages follow the theme of the “I Will Listen” event. Each public has a primary
and secondary message. The primary message serves as the tagline for each public
and the secondary messages serve as the underlying meaning behind each of the
primary messages. We used these messages to guide the development of our tactics.

Northwest Students (Primary): End the Silence

Northwest Students (Secondary):

● Northwest offers mental health resources included in your tuition

● You are a part of a supportive community at Northwest
● You’re not alone
● Your voice matters
● You have the power to help and support others

Northwest Faculty (Primary): Support the Conversation

Northwest Faculty (Secondary):

● You can be a mental health advocate for your students

 ● Your role as an educator includes supporting and serving as a resource for
students
● “Every Student, Every Day”
● Your mental health is important too
● Your attitude about mental health resources on campus affects students’
attitudes

Local Media (Primary): Elevate Student Voices

Local Media (Secondary):

● You serve as the voice of students in the media

● Your attitude about mental health resources on campus affects students’
attitudes
● You have the power to contribute to the conversation and promote mental health
resources on campus
● You have a platform to save lives by informing students about mental health
resources
● A relationship with Wellness Services staff is mutually beneficial

Strategy A (Students): Get people talking about mental health resources on campus
and mental health in general.

Tactics for Students:

● Social media outreach (instagram, twitter, TikTok, Facebook)

● Clarify name and role on University website
● Make website page more user-friendly
● Create colorful flyers & disperse throughout campus
● Create handouts (motivational quotes) and have a booth in the union
● Sidewalk chalking on campus
● Speak to large organizations (Greek life, athletics, etc.) about I Will Listen event
● Northwest Missourian article
● Punch card at resource fair, win prize
● “Bring a friend” raffle

Strategy B (Northwest Faculty): Encourage students to engage in conversation about

mental health and promote on-campus mental health resources.

Tactics for Northwest Faculty:

● Send out mass email

● Get on agenda for faculty meetings (student testimonials)
● Video for student testimonials (Every Student, Every Day)
 ● Handout for classes
● One pager for mental health resources on campus (March, pre-registration)

Strategy C (Media): Use student media platform to speak positively about mental
health resources on campus

Tactics for Media:

● Set up meeting with BK and Monica to address mental health offerings

● Radio ad for student media
● Create press release with information about the event
● Create press release with FAQ about mental health on college campuses and
our campus specifically
● Encourage Missourian to tweet about the event
● Ask marketing department to post about I Will Listen event
● Send information to Mark Hendrix for union TVs

Measurement/Calendar/Budget

Below is a template to follow to measure the success of the proposed campaign for the “I Will
Listen” event. The template will show the proposed timeline, allotted budget and the people
responsible for executing each task for the event.

Person Month To
Public Tactic Task(s) Responsible Complete Cost
Create chart to track
Social Media impressions and
Students Outreach interactions Kayla January 0
Create and schedule
Social Media posts for Instagram and
Students Outreach Facebook Kayla January 0
Create and schedule
Social Media posts for TikTok and
Students Outreach Twitter Karli January 0
Social Media Execute posts and track Social Media
Students Outreach engagement Intern January-April 0
Sidewalk Chalk on Contact OSI, buy chalk,
Students Campus create design Carolyn April 10
Speak at
Organization Create presentation, email Katie, Karli, and
Students Meetings organizations Lacey April 0

Students Union Booth Print and laminate Katie April 50

 motivational quotes to
hand out, contact Mark
Hendrix to schedule booth
Create flyer, receive
Create and approval from OSI, and
Students Disperse Flyers disperse Lacey March 20
Make Website Host focus group to gain Social Media
Students More User-Friendly feedback, make changes Intern January 0
Students Send Mass Email Create email content Kayla March 0
Create graphic, email
Students Post on Union TV's Mark Hendrix Katie April 0
Order/purchase
giveaways and prizes for
the event, mention which
prizes are available on Social Media
Students Purchase Prizes social media Intern March 200
Create content for
handout, print at mail and
Create Handout for copy center, disperse to
Professors Professors professors mailboxes Carolyn March 50
Set up Meeting
with Northwest Email NW Missourian,
Media Missourian Staff send calendar invite BK and Monica January 0
Send Press Draft press release, send
Release about I to NW Missourian, Social Media
Media Will Listen Event approve article Intern March 0

Appendix A

Key Publics

Public Demographics Psychographics Key Messages

Students - 18-22 - Being a - Wellness

- Living in student can be Services
Maryville stressful is here to
- Educated, - In a time of provide
pursuing a transition/unce you with
degree rtainty
mental
 health
resource
s and
support

Faculty/Staff - Middle age - Student - Every

(30-60) focused student
- Middle class - Mental health matters
- Bachelor's is important
degree + - Every student,
every day

Community - 18+ - Family - Mental

members - Middle Class oriented illness
- No college - a - Cares about matters
Bachelor’s mental health no matter
Degree + - Looking for the
- Working Full help just don’t
situation
time or SAHP know where to
(Stay at home start
parent)

Prospective - Under 18 - Making a big - If you go

Students - Transfer life change here, you
students - Future will be
focused taken
- Looking at care of
mental health
services when
deciding
where to go

Key Public Personas:

Students: Freshman student living on campus, who has struggled or is struggling with mental
health issues and adjusting to college life. This student has little knowledge of Wellness
Services mental health offerings outside of counseling, which they are having a hard time
receiving services for.

Faculty/Staff: This staff member is a professional advisor that advises first year students. They
serve as a resource for freshmen on campus and are often charged with directing them to on-
campus offices for assistance. This staff member is informed on Wellness Services events and
offerings pertaining to mental health and strives to stay updated on what events are occurring
on campus in order to assist students.

Community Members: This is a young community member who recently graduated from
Northwest and is living in Maryville. This person utilized Wellness Services mental health
offerings and events throughout college and is a chief supporter of the events. They work at the
university and have contact with students daily, encouraging them to utilize Wellness Services
mental health offerings.

Prospective Students: Senior in high school who is considering attending Northwest Missouri
State University. This student has struggled with mental health issues throughout high school
and is nervous about leaving home and handling all of the challenges that come with college.
When researching colleges, this student is looking into the social media pages and website
pages to search for Wellness Services mental health offerings and events.

Appendix B

Media Audit:

Scoring: 1-5 (1=poor, 3=average, 5=excellent)

Media Audit Score Recommendations

Media Awareness 2

We are currently known by local media 3 - Reach out to Missourian to

set up meeting detailing
goals, positive coverage,
events, etc.
- Send press release to local
Maryville news outlets

Received coverage in the last six months 3 - Reach out to Missourian to

 craft some positive articles
about Wellness Services
events, offerings, etc.

You are sought out as subject matter experts 1 - Build relationship with
Missourian staff

Positioning 1

Have a clear, well-defined positioning 1 - Use Wellness Services

statement positioning
statement/Northwest’s
mission and goals to create
a positioning statement for
Hope4All
- Post positioning statement
on Northwest website and
social media
- Update page on
Northwest website to
explain offerings and
services

Positioning statements clearly differentiate 1 - Create a positioning

offerings statement to inform students
of offerings

Positioning statements have been externally 1 - Create a positioning

verified statement and verify
externally before
implementing

Internal Support 2

Executives support ongoing effort for media 2 - Put action behind wanting to
coverage get into contact with
Missourian staff and outside
Maryville media
- Set up a meeting with
 BK, Monica, and
Missourian staff
- Send a press release to
Mark Hornikle when events
are upcoming

Executives develop announcements and 3 - Announcements are existing,

participate but need added detail and
context
- Develop press release or
article for large events

Spokespersons have received media 1 - Media coaching unknown,

coaching but necessary when taking
steps to connect further with
media
- Develop clear goals and
tone for conversations with
media

Contact info for media inquiries is provided 1 - Add media contact

and easy to find information for POE on the
Wellness Services website
(specifically BK and Monica)
- Link social media on website

Expertise 3

Strategy has been defined and is being 3 - Clear strategy has been
executed defined, but could use
further development and
clarification
- Set benchmarks and goals
for executing strategy

Strategy is aligned with corporate goals and 3 - Further develop strategy to

objectives include Northwest’s “Every
Student, Every Day” and
“Career Ready Day 1”
philosophies and goals
There is oversight, cooperation and
accountability in place
Team knows how to craft press releases and
other media
Process
Process in place is effective
Distribution of news and stories is timely
Tracking of results and placements occurs
2 - Oversight is in place, but
overseer should improve
communication strategies
with team members
- Set up weekly meeting to
discuss goals, strategy
execution, media contacts,
etc.
4 - Knowledge of how to write
an effective press release is
present, but should be
utilized more often
- Develop a “shell” of a
release with the correct tone
and strategy
- Create a media outreach
plan/social media plan
2
2 - Tools are in place, but are
not being executed
effectively. Team members
should capitalize on tools
available and take action.
- Outline a specific process
and goals for media
coverage, crisis
communication, social
media, etc.
1 - Increase media coverage
- Capitalize on events in order
to create more coverage
1 - Create benchmarks, goals,
and means of tracking
response and engagement
- Send out student survey
 about effectiveness of media
techniques

Process helps other departments to know 1 - Collaborate with other areas

how to gain coverage of wellness services to
create shared goals and
resources

Process is opportunistic, recognizing current 3 - Current trends are

events and trends recognized but should be
capitalized on more
frequently
- More posting about events
coming up and services
offered
- Collaborate with other areas
of campus to create content
- Recognize negative
feedback and address it
online

Media Relationships 1

Team knows how to identify and build 1 - Get into contact with media
relationships with key media representatives
- Missourian staff
- Steven Chappell
- Mark Hornikle

Team maintains a contact database with 1 - Create contact database

preferences with key media contacts
- Include key messages and
goals

There is regular, meaningful communication 1 - Set up regular meetings with

with the media media staff on campus
- Send out regular press
releases to media outlets

We are responsive to media inquiries 1 - Create relationship with


Team has assembled effective press kit and
other media measures
Team is respected by the media
media outlets that lead to
media inquires about events
and offering
1 - Create a press kit with key
messages
- Include media contacts
- Create crisis communication
plan for negative media
coverage
2 - Reach out to media with
events
- Respond in a timely manner
to questions/comments from
media
Appendix C
(Kayla)

Binkley, C. (2019, November 19). As stigma ebbs, college students seek mental
health help. Retrieved March 1, 2020, from
https://apnews.com/08e5c195bf04471e9c4a127abe831d91

The following article discusses the increase in college students seeking mental health
help. The article is a combination of statistical data to back up the main claim and title of
the article and student testimonials of how mental health help services provided by their
Universities have helped them progress and grow with their treatment positively. The
article also addresses the increase of demand and lack of staff to meet it. This article is
useful in our research as it provides more information on helpful techniques and student
feedback from other colleges and provides statistical data to back up the claim that
more students are seeking mental health help after transitioning to college.

Bizzell, O. A. (2018, April 3). 7 Ways to Increase Attendance at Campus Events . Retrieved
from Odell A. Bizzell II: https://www.odellbizzell.com/7-ways-to-increase-
attendance-at-campus-events/

This is an article about seven different ways that you can attract more college students to a
campus event that is not sports or Greek affiliated. Increase attendance without increasing your
stress levels.Bizzel is an inspirational speaker, author and businessman that was having issues
with gathering people at larger universities versus community colleges and so he came up with
7 ways to help raise attendance. One of the main struggles that Wellness has had is getting a
consistent and decent number of individuals to each of their events. Through this article's
information, I believe that they could benefit greatly from the tips that Bizzel has to offer.

Giroux, D., & Geiss, E. (2019). Evaluating a student-led mental health awareness
campaign. Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, 24(1), 61–66.
https://ezproxy.nwmissouri.edu: 2088/10.24839/2325-7342.JN24.1.61.

This article evaluated the effectiveness of a student-led mental health awareness

campaign on the Olivet College campus. The authors analyzed the effectiveness of
student-to-student interactions surrounding the topic of mental health throughout a
week-long campaign on a small college campus in the Midwest. By conducting surveys
with a group of about 200 student attendees both before and after the event, the
researchers found that “the student self-stigma toward seeking help decreased after a
week-long mental health awareness campaign”. This article was insightful and useful for
many reasons. The environment in which this research took place reflected a similar
environment to Northwest Missouri State University, where our client operates. In
addition, the campaign provided a similar experience to that of our client’s event, I Will
Listen, by providing both interactive activities as well as formal resources, handouts,
and information about campus mental health resources.
 Jorm, A. (2000). Mental health literacy: Public knowledge and beliefs about
mental disorders.

British Journal of Psychiatry

Jorm’s research provides insight to change the public perspective on mental

health issues. The author starts by diving into mental health literacy. Followed by
common public perspectives of mental health, then believed causes of mental health.
The author finished by providing ways to help those with mental health issues and
tactics to improve mental health literacy.

Throughout the article, Jorm provided excellent advice in ways to spot mental health
diseases in people. Giving insight into what those people are experiencing in their
heads. AS well as ways to encourage people to seek out treatment options. Rather than
pushing everyone to seek professional help, Jorm equips the reader to act as a mental
health advocate on their own.

Sections in this article that could prove to be beneficial are Sections 2-4. They address
ways to improve mental health literacy as well as tactics to spot and help mental health
diseases.

Kafka, Alexander C. (2019). Grim topic, festive events: Upbeat college health fairs
focus on suicide prevention. Chronicle of Higher Education. 66(6), 1.
http://web.b.ebscohost.com/

ehost/detail/detail?vid=18&sid=d5b71618-7534-43c3-956b-
806e749922%40sessionmgr103&bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPWNvb2tpZSxpcCx1
aWQmc2l0ZT1laG9zdC1saXZlJnNjb3BlPXNpdGU
%3d#AN=139624542&db=a9h.

This article focused on the importance of maintaining an upbeat tone at mental health
and suicide prevention events on college campuses. The author covered the Jordan
Porco Foundation’s efforts in improving the mental health of college students and
ending the stigma surrounding mental health issues. The organization focuses on
providing college health fairs that emphasize suicide prevention while also including fun,
upbeat events.With about 100,000 students having attended a mental health event put
on by the Jordan Porco Foundation, it is evident that these mental health events are
popular with college students, so there is much wisdom to be gained by analyzing their
tactics.

Kiely, K., Leach, L., Olesen, S., & Butterworth, P. (2015). How financial hardship is
associated with the onset of mental health problems over time. Social
Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology, 50(6), 909–918.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-015-1027-0
This article focused on the consistent link between poor mental health and financial
hardship and poverty. The researchers argued that the temporal association between
poor mental health and financial hardships must be clarified before hardship alleviation
can be considered an effective mental health promotion and prevention strategy . They
examined whether the associations between financial hardship and mental health
problems are most effectively explained by an individual’s current or prior experience of
hardship or their underlying vulnerability . The researchers concluded from the study
that the results supported the argument that programs that address and prevent
hardship may also promote community mental health . This study presented research
that suggests that lower socioeconomic status and the hardships that accompany that
status are significantly associated with mental health conditions. For the Wellness
Center, this information could be beneficial to have; helping to inform how they present
the resources they have to offer.

Mental Health Foundation. (2020, February 10). Stigma and discrimination.

Retrieved from https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/s/stigma-and-
discrimination

Mental Health Foundation’s article offered insight to mental health social stigmas. The
author touched on common difficulties encountered and what their life might look like.
Stating that mental health makes finding and keeping a job more difficult.

The Mental Health Foundation has contributed vast research to the cause. The
research has been essential in the developing mental health literacy, in hopes of ending
social stigmas. They have been an advocate to normalize mental health diseases,
speaking up for those unable to.

The article provided great research throughout the whole article. Information over
mental health disease impacts can be found in the second section. Data over the
subject can be found in section 3.

Meyer-Delius, H. (2016, September 23). 50 simple tips to help you get more
attendees. Retrieved from Print Some : https://blog.printsome.com/get-more-
attendees/

This article is about various marketing and advertising techniques that could appeal to college
students and people with busy schedules. Don't be an "I'll attempt to make it" event, be an "I
can't wait to go to this'' event. The article will benefit the Wellness Center greatly because more
than a few college students at Northwest are highly involved on campus and also work as well.
If the students don’t have a good reason to attend or are given short notice, 9 out of 10 times,
they won’t attend because they have class to study for or work they have to go to. So I think that
this article will help all Wellness to gain some more insight on different ways to catch a college
student's attention and keep it for each of the events they host.

Mosher, C. E., & Danoff-Burg, S. (2010). Indoor Tanning, Mental Health, and
Substance Use among College Students. Journal of Health Psychology,
15(6), 819–827. doi: 10.1177/1359105309357091

The following article is about a study that was conducted at Kenyon College to see if
indoor tanning frequency, symptoms of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder,
and substance use was related. A total of 421 college students completed self-report
measures on one occasion. Among men, indoor tanning was positively associated
with symptoms of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder, whereas tanning was
unrelated in these symptoms among women. Among women, indoor tanning was
positively associated with the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other substances. This
article was useful within our research because it showed many different coping
mechanisms that college students use in order to cope with the stresses of being a
college student. Within the Northwest campus, many students are hiding their mental
illnesses with things that are talked about in this article.

Nagasu, M., Kogi, K., & Yamamoto, I. (2019). Association of socioeconomic

and lifestyle-related risk factors with mental health conditions: a cross-
sectional study. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 1–13.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-8022-4
The article focuses on the widening health inequalities in countries around the world.
These inequalities have resulted in rising public concerns. The study the authors
conducted aimed to clarify the associations of socioeconomic status-related variables
such as levels of household disposable income and employment status, and lifestyle
factors with mental health conditions among Japanese adults aged 40 to 69. The
researchers could conclude that low levels of household disposable income and
unhealthy lifestyle factors were significantly associated with mental health conditions.
These results suggest the importance of improving unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and
developing effective health promotion programs. This study addresses an important
issue in the world right now. While it focuses on a specific population, it could be
expected that similar correlations could be drawn with other populations. This case
study was applicable to our own research because its findings supported who could
most benefit from the resources that the Wellness Services provides. This information
could be used to make our key publics and tactics for this campaign as precise as
possible.
Reilly, K. (2018, March 19). Anxiety and Depression: More College Students
Seeking Help. Retrieved March 1, 2020, from
https://time.com/5190291/anxiety-depression-college-university-students/

The following article discusses one of the problems the Northwest Missouri State
Wellness Service’s is with the growing demand from students for mental health services
and the lack of staff to meet the demand. The article also provides a lot of statistics that
support our project proposal for the Wellness Center’s event. The bulk of the article is
student testimonials of how other University Wellness Services have helped them or
how the lack of has hurt them. This article is useful in our research as it provides more
information on helpful techniques and student feedback from other colleges.

Sullivan, B., & Payne, T. W. (2007). Affective Disorders and Cognitive Failures: A
Comparison of Seasonal and Nonseasonal Depression. American Journal
of Psychiatry, 164(11), 1663–1667. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2007.06111792

The following article talks about how seasonal depression shares certain common
symptoms with nonseasonal depression. The two disorders have never really been
examined in a single study to the authors' knowledge. The goal of their research was
to examine the potential similarities in cognitive impairments in seasonal affective
disorder and major depressive disorder in college students in the Midwest. A group of
93 participants were assessed for major depressive disorder and seasonal affective
disorder in late autumn and completed a Cognitive Failures Questionnaire. This
article helped us within our research because Northwest is a Midwestern school, and
the weather changes often. Students on campus struggle with seasonal affective
disorder on our campus, and don’t even know it because they may have never been
somewhere with such changing weather as it is here.