Mental health is not just the absence of mental illness but a mental state in which engineers can effectively cope with stress, realize their potential, and contribute to society.

Engineering education research focused on understanding and improving mental health in engineering.

The Wilson group focuses on improving mental health and well-being among undergraduate students in high-stress academic environments, with a particular focus on engineering. We use both quantitative and qualitative methods to understand the beliefs, barriers, and cultural norms that influence mental health help-seeking behavior. Through survey development, focus groups, and student-informed interventions, we design and evaluate programs that support mental health, reduce stigma, and create more inclusive academic cultures. Our work is grounded in behavioral theory and driven by a commitment to equity, aiming to redefine success in higher education to include emotional and social well-being.

The Engineering Wellness Center: Redefining success for engineering students

Collaborators: Dr. Rudy Buchheit (PI, Dean of Engineering), Dr. Johné Parker (Associate Dean in Engineering), Dr. Michael Johnson (Associate Dean in Engineering), Dr. Joseph Hammer (Counseling Psychology), Dr. Zitsi Mirakhur (Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation), Dr. Renee Kaufmann (Communication and Information Technology), and Dr. Carly Hagins (Product Design)

The Engineering Wellness Center at the University of Kentucky aims to transform the culture of engineering education by prioritizing mental health and well-being. Within engineering, students experience high levels of stress and are unlikely to access professional support for their mental health. To address this, the Center will work to make the College of Engineering a more supportive, inclusive, and equitable environment where students feel empowered to care for their social and emotional well-being alongside their academic and professional growth. The Center’s mission is to enhance student mental health not only by providing resources, but also by reshaping how success in engineering is defined.

Through student-informed interventions, cross-campus partnerships, and efforts that reach students, faculty, departments, and leadership, the Center will promote a culture where all engineering students are supported. Activities will be designed with a focus on ensuring that students most affected by structural barriers receive the support they need to thrive. By sharing outcomes and lessons learned, the Center will help guide other institutions in building more inclusive and mentally healthy engineering programs.

NSF # 2316787: Planning Grant: Engineering WISE (Wellness through Integrated Support and Engagement)

NSF # 2407292: BPE-Track 4: Phase I: The Engineering Wellness Center: Redefining Success for Engineering Students

We’re hiring! We are actively looking for a postdoctoral scholar to support the development of the Center and aid in understanding the impact of the Center on student outcomes. You can find more information here.

Identifying intervention targets to increase mental health help seeking in undergraduate engineers

Proposal Collaborators: Dr. Joseph Hammer (Counseling Psychology), Dr. Sherri Frizell (Prairie View A&M University), Dr. Jerrod Henderson (University of Houston)

Engineering students are less likely to seek mental health support than students in other academic fields. This is especially true for students who are men, first-generation college students, or from underrepresented racial or ethnic backgrounds. This project aims to change that by learning more about what helps or hinders engineering students from engaging in professional mental health support.

Building on earlier research, this study will refine a tool called the Undergraduate Engineering Mental Health Help-Seeking Instrument (UE-MH-HSI), which is designed to measure students’ beliefs about seeking mental health support. The project team will work with students at three different institutions, the University of Kentucky, Prairie View A&M University, and the University of Houston, to ensure the tool reflects the experiences of students from a wide range of backgrounds.

Through focus groups, interviews, and large-scale surveys, the team will improve and validate the UE-MH-HSI, with a focus on making sure it is inclusive and easy to use. By the end of the project, researchers will have identified key beliefs that shape whether engineering students seek help. These insights will guide future efforts to support mental health in engineering, both during college and as students transition into the workforce.

NSF # 2225567: Research: Identifying intervention targets to increase mental health help seeking in undergraduate engineers

This project was funded in August of 2022 but the funding was cancelled in April of 2025 due to shifts in NSF funding priorities. If you are interested in partnering to continue this work, please reach out to Dr. Wilson.

Supporting student well-being with a community of transformation

Proposal Collaborators: Dr. Karin Jensen (University of Michigan)

In collaboration with Dr. Karin Jensen and her research team, this research project is focused on improving mental health and well-being in engineering education. The team is working with faculty across multiple colleges to understand how they can help create healthier, more supportive environments for students. The project uses a community-based approach, bringing together educators who care about student wellness to share ideas, learn from each other, and take action. Faculty will also receive training and support, including funding and mentorship, to design and test new ways to improve mental health and well-being in their own classrooms and institutions.

By studying how cultural change happens in colleges of engineering, the team hopes to better understand what helps or hinders faculty from becoming leaders in student well-being. In the long term, this work aims to shift the culture of engineering from one where students are just surviving to one where they can truly thrive.

You can find out more information and sign up for the virtual community here.

NSF # 2336267/2336268: Collaborative Research: Changing the Narrative of Surviving to Thriving: Supporting Student Well-being with a Community of Transformation

Accelerating cultural transformation in business, engineering and nursing to support mental health

Proposal Collaborators: Dr. Joseph Hammer (Counseling Psychology), Dr. Alexis Allen (Business), Dr. Lee-Anne Walmsley (Nursing)

Despite facing high levels of academic stress, students in engineering, business and nursing majors are significantly less likely to seek professional help for their mental health, even when they’re struggling. This project expands ongoing efforts at the University of Kentucky to create supportive, inclusive environments where students feel empowered to care for their mental health.

Using surveys and focus groups, the research team will identify beliefs that keep students from seeking help, such as thinking that asking for support is a sign of weakness or that mental health care isn’t effective. These beliefs will be incorporated into self-report instruments that are tailored to the culture of each academic discipline. Further, findings from this work will inform the development of tailored mental health training for students and faculty in each college. The training will be adapted to the culture of each field and presented in courses distributed across each College.

By the end of the project, the team will have created customized tools and interventions that help students in these three disciplines feel seen, supported, and empowered to seek help when they need it. The long-term goal is to transform academic culture so that well-being is part of how we define success.

University of Kentucky Provost IMPACT Award