Resource (only accessible if enrolled in the course): IDIS 199: The Science of Well-being, Mental Health & Resiliency

Authors/Developers: Queen's University

IDIS 199: The Science of Well-being, Mental Health, and Resiliency

Online Undergraduate Course

“IDIS 199, The Science of Mental Health, Well-Being, & Resiliency, is a course designed for undergraduate students across all programs. This course will impart relevant evidence [...] to understand the science behind mental health, well-being, and resiliency in emergent adults. [...] Students will learn about the emergent adult brain, genetic and psychosocial contributors to mental health, exposures common to university life which can detract from well-being, as well as actionable habits [...] that can help individuals succeed both academically and personally. Topics to be covered include an overview of conceptual approaches to defining and measuring mental health, mental health problems and mental illness, the impact of sleep habits, distress tolerance and self-regulation on well-being, and an introduction to effective coping such as participation in arts and culture, exercise and recreation, and healthy lifestyle choices.” - Queen's University

Key Findings

IDIS 199 - “The Science of Wellbeing” receives a rating of 4.

The pilot-study evaluating the program measured four key-pillars of mental health literacy, but only produced statistically significant and favorable changes in mental health knowledge and help seeking among students.  Because of the nature of pilot studies, further research is required to substantiate the effectiveness of this program, and its readiness to be utilized by stakeholders and the general public.

This intervention has been shown to have statistically significant effects on the following key-pillars of Mental Health Literacy:

  • Knowledge
  • Help Seeking
  • Stigma
  • Obtaining & Maintaining Positive Mental Health
  • Recognition of Mental Disorders

Recognition of Mental Disorders was not quantitatively measured in the relevant literature. We have no insight into this program’s efficacy with respect to this key pillar. Because Stigma and Help Seeking measures were already favorable prior to the intervention, there was little room for statistically significant changes to occur following the intervention - this is known as a ‘ceiling effect’ and was observed for both Stigma and Help Seeking. Obtaining & Maintaining Positive Mental Health was measured, but did not improve following the program.

Overall, there is initial evidence of some positive reception, acceptability, and short-term enhancements in knowledge among undergraduate students who participated in the pilot study for IDIS 199. However, a number of reservations warrant further investigation into the effectiveness of this course, incliding quantity and quality of peer reviewed evidence with same or similar findings.

IDIS 199 is not available to the general public, but can be accessed by enrolling in the online course. Please contact Queen’s University through the ‘Resource’ link at the top of this page.

The Science of Well-being, Mental Health & Resilience Rating: 4

(Ratings of 4-6 are not scored for dissemination readiness)

evalutation rating guide 4

For more information on our scoring system, criteria, and outcomes for this course, please see the Evaluation Process & Scoring page