Mental health and wellbeing education in tertiary institutions: Exploring areas for development

Abstract

Those working and living on-farm are increasingly facing wellbeing challenges, with young people a particularly vulnerable group. Resilience can be built by introducing young people to aspects of wellbeing via education programmes. This study reports on a content analysis of current wellbeing education at five universities that provide agricultural degrees, located in Aotearoa New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States. We use a framework developed from a comprehensive literature review on young people and mental health. The analysis involves examining course notes, learning materials, and related resources to identify key themes and content related to wellbeing. Mental health education for agricultural students is inconsistently embedded across universities, with some focusing on practical work scenarios while others integrate it throughout the curriculum. However, most programmes lack comprehensive, longitudinal approaches. The study enriches existing frameworks on youth mental health by providing insights into how wellbeing is integrated into higher education curricula, identifying key areas of focus and opportunities for improvement. Practically, the findings offer actionable recommendations for universities to enhance their wellbeing education, strengthening support systems and promoting mental health and wellbeing among students.