University of Calgary hub aims to reshape campus mental health research

CALGARY · The University of Calgary has launched a collaborative research hub aimed at tackling the mental health challenges students face within academic systems. The Post-Secondary Mental Health and Well-Being Research and Knowledge Hub, known as The Hub, began operations in early 2025. It was created as part of the university's Campus Mental Health Strategy through a partnership between the Community Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy and the Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education. The initiative seeks to move beyond studying access to counselling services to examine how broader university systems affect well-being. Dr. Jennifer Thannhauser, the research lead for UCalgary's Community Mental Health and Well-being Strategy, said the space was designed to unite diverse campus members. "[The Hub] was developed to essentially create an intentional space that brings together researchers, students, service providers, academic staff and non-academic staff, who are all interested in enabling and building knowledge around post-secondary mental health and well-being," said Thannhauser. She stressed that The Hub is not a traditional laboratory but a collaborative ecosystem for developing research aligned with shared priorities in higher education.

Thannhauser said extensive consultation with academics, students and community members was crucial to its creation. "We really didn't want it to be something that was driven by a single researcher. We wanted it to be something that was created by the community for the community," Thannhauser said. Since its launch, The Hub has supported several research projects, including studies on how peer mentorship programs and Peer-Assisted Study Sessions affect student mental health.

One of the major activities in the past year was a working group series where researchers designed new studies connected to post-secondary mental health. That process resulted in six new research projects intended to create impact at the university. The next step for these projects is to secure funding through institutional, provincial or national grants. Thannhauser considers the engagement of individuals from diverse backgrounds, including undergraduates, graduates and staff, a significant success for The Hub.

Current plans for The Hub include continuing and expanding its resources and services. Upcoming events include research shows and training opportunities for students. Many of the research projects connected to The Hub are still in their initial stages, as the initiative has only been active for a short time. Thannhauser expects that in a few years, the data from these studies could be used to implement changes in how the university approaches student mental health.

With files from The Gauntlet