Communication about the importance of mental health to success in
education and life overall should begin with the college or graduate school
admission process and extend throughout a student’s career at Penn. As
much as possible, it should also be consistent across all 12 schools and the
University’s diverse communities. From the very first message they receive
about Penn, students should hear that Penn is a “caring community”
as well as an institution with the highest academic standards and extraordinary
opportunities for leadership and service. It should be emphasized
that mental and physical wellbeing are critical to a student’s ability to fully
realize their potential and to take advantage of Penn’s academic and social
opportunities. These messages need to be closely aligned with and become
deeply embedded in Penn’s campus culture.