The Mental Health Symposium: An Effective Tool to Improve Collegiate Aviation Students’ Knowledge, Understanding, and Comfort with Mental Health

Abstract

Introduction: Mental health remains a pressing concern for many in the U.S. and has intensified for those in certain populations, especially students in primary, secondary, and post-secondary institutions. This concern is intensified for college-aged students and collegiate aviation students in particular, as they face a myriad of unique stressors. Despite societal embrace alongside awareness of mental health, many are still reluctant to seek help because of stigma and regulatory barriers, exacerbating risks to academic performance and aviation safety. Research Question: The central research question asks: What impact, if any, do Mental Health Symposiums have on the knowledge and understanding of mental health of collegiate aviation students? Data Collection and Analysis: A mixed methods design employing pre- and post-symposium surveys was administered to students attending the 2025 UNO Aviation Institute Mental Health Symposium in February 2025. Surveys included 40 questions (35 closed-ended, 5 open-ended); quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically via NVivo. A total of 68 paired responses were included in the final analysis to ultimately derive the findings/results. Findings/Results: Quantitative findings revealed significant increases in students’ knowledge and understanding of on-campus and industry-specific mental health resources. However, changes in comfort discussing mental health were less pronounced, indicating persistent interpersonal barriers. Thematic analysis identified five core themes: Education as Empowerment, Pathways to Awareness, Taboo to Conversation, Soaring Beyond Stigma, and Access Granted – Barriers Bypassed. Implications: This study highlights the effectiveness of mental health symposiums in increasing students’ awareness and understanding of mental health. Program leadership should consider sustained, multifaceted mental health interventions to foster a more supportive and stigma-free culture that is also sensitive to the gendered and first-generation student experiences.