At Mizzou, every faculty and staff member plays a role in creating a campus environment where students can thrive. Supporting a culture of prevention and well-being isn’t limited to health services or counseling offices; it’s a shared responsibility that touches every classroom, office, and student interaction.
Research consistently shows that students who feel connected, supported, and safe are more likely to succeed academically and persist to graduation (ACHA, 2023). When we take small steps, whether by checking in on a student, reinforcing positive behaviors, or connecting someone to help, we strengthen that culture of care.
This toolkit was designed to help Mizzou’s faculty and staff understand how substance use, mental health, and social norms intersect with student well-being and academic success. It offers practical guidance for fostering harm reduction, modeling healthy norms, and sharing resources that can make a real difference.
Thank you for being an essential part of Mizzou’s community of care. Together, we can help our students roar responsibly and reach their full potential.
Be well,
Jamie Shutter
Executive Director, Student Health & Well-Being
Why Prevention Is Everyone’s Responsibility
Supporting prevention and well-being is not the job of one department; it’s a shared, campus-wide effort. Prevention involves proactive strategies to promote healthy decision-making, reduce risk, and build a sense of belonging that helps students thrive.
This toolkit focuses on education about and prevention of substance use and can serve as a guide for faculty and staff in supporting students.
The Role of Harm Reduction
Harm reduction is an evidence-based approach that meets students where they are, without judgment. Rather than assuming all students will abstain from substance use, harm reduction focuses on reducing the potential negative consequences of that use. Strategies might include:
- Promoting safe transportation options, like STRIPES.
- Encouraging hydration and pacing during alcohol consumption.
- Sharing information about Narcan, for overdose prevention and response.
Harm reduction is a form of prevention—it helps minimize risk before problems escalate.
Why This Matters for Academic Success
Student health and academic success are deeply intertwined. Substance misuse, mental health challenges, and burnout all correlate with decreased GPA, absenteeism, and lower retention rates. By promoting well-being, we support the university’s academic mission and long-term student success.
Understanding the Relationship Between Substance Use and Mental Health
Substance use and mental health are closely connected. Students experiencing anxiety, depression, or stress may use alcohol or other substances to cope. Conversely, substance misuse can worsen mental health symptoms, creating a cycle that’s difficult to break (NIDA, 2023).
Mental Health
About half of individuals with substance use disorders experience a mental health condition at some point.
Stress and Belonging
Transition periods—like the first year, finals week, or major life changes—can increase vulnerability.
Early Intervention
Faculty and staff are often among the first to notice when a student may be struggling. A simple check-in, a kind word, or connecting them to campus resources can make a significant impact. For guidance on how to support a student of concern and helpful resources, refer to See. Say. Do.
The Power of Social Norms
What Are Social Norms?
Social norms are the shared beliefs and expectations about what behaviors are typical or acceptable within a group. Students’ perceptions of their peers’ behaviors often influence their own decisions, sometimes more than actual behavior does.
Data shows that majority of students overestimate their peers’ substance use, both in frequency and quantity. And because students’ perceptions of their peers’ behaviors influence their own decisions, these inaccurate perceptions can have harmful impacts on individuals and groups.
Your Role in Reinforcing Positive Norms
Faculty and staff can strengthen healthy norms in everyday interactions:
- Model balanced, health-supportive behaviors.
- Incorporate well-being messages in classrooms, meetings, and events.
- Use accurate data and messages from campus campaigns (like Roar Responsibly) to reinforce positive behaviors and address discrepancies between student perceptions and actual behaviors.
Social Norm Examples
In 2025, nearly 1 in 5 (18%) students reported never consuming alcohol, and 1 in 4 (23%) students reported not drinking alcohol at all in the past year.
- Most Mizzou students (72%) drink less or choose not to drink at all when it could interfere with their academics.
- Most Mizzou students are also not regular cannabis/marijuana users. More than half of all students report not using cannabis/marijuana in the past year, and over 2 out of 3 students haven’t used in the past 30 days.
- Most Mizzou students (73%) feel a sense of belonging to the community, and most (86%) would want their peers to intervene if they thought they were in danger.
When accurate information is consistently shared across campus, students internalize healthier expectations and make safer choices. To remain informed and help inform your students, refer to Roar Responsibly.
Everyday Prevention and Harm Reduction
Every interaction with a student is an opportunity to model, normalize, and support well-being. You don’t need to be a health expert, just approachable, informed, and consistent. For more information and resources, refer to prevention education.
Simple Ways to Make an Impact
In the Classroom
- Include a brief well-being statement or campus resource list in your syllabus.
- Acknowledge stressful times (like midterms or finals) and remind students about available support, including the Mental Health Resource Hub and 24/7 crisis support.
- Consider flexible policies that promote balance and academic resilience, while maintaining student accountability.
- Reinforce positive social norms.
In Advising or Mentoring
- Ask open-ended questions (“How are you managing your stress this semester?”).
- Normalize help-seeking and self-care.
- Refer to appropriate campus resources when concerns arise. For guidance on how to support a student of concern and helpful resources, refer to See. Say. Do.
In Campus Life
- Reinforce responsible behaviors, such as using a safe transportation option, like STRIPES.
- Rather than cancel class for planned events or unplanned absences, invite Wellness Resource Center professional staff to deliver engaging well-being presentations.
- Share harm reduction messaging and model positive social interactions.
Even brief, nonjudgmental conversations can increase the likelihood that a student seeks help when needed (NASEM, 2021).
Hosting Student-Facing Events that Promote Well-Being and Student Success
Events—large or small—are powerful opportunities to reinforce Mizzou’s culture of prevention and well-being. Whether it’s a study break, organization meeting, residence hall program, or large campus celebration, events can model healthy behaviors, reduce risk, and help students feel more connected to the Mizzou community, without involving alcohol or substance use.
When offered at high-risk times during the school year, social programming can act as a prevention intervention, as genuine alternatives to substance-centered events on high-risk days can reduce perceived pressure to drink or use (DeJong & Langford, 2002).
Principles for Hosting Healthy, Supportive Events
Center Belonging and Connection
Students who feel socially connected are less likely to engage in high-risk substance use and more likely to seek help when they need it.
- Plan inviting activities that are engaging to all students.
- Encourage peer interaction, teamwork, and fun.
- Integrate elements that highlight Mizzou’s core values: respect, responsibility, discovery and excellence.
Integrate Stress Management and Academic Success Themes
Events that address stress, time management, or study skills normalize the challenges of student life while reinforcing that help-seeking is a strength.
- Offer brief skill-building activities (e.g., study tips, mindfulness, goal setting).
- Partner with academic support offices, tutors, or Student Health & Well-Being.
- Use messaging that connects well-being to performance: “Taking care of yourself is part of doing your best.”
Model and Message Harm Reduction
Students may or may not choose to drink or use substances. Consistently reinforcing social norms can make a big impact in correcting misperceptions and normalizing healthier behaviors.
- Use positive, nonjudgmental language.
- Display social norming materials from Roar Responsibly to correct misperceptions about student behavior.
Why It Matters
Student engagement in healthy, inviting events is associated with improved well-being, a stronger sense of belonging, and higher academic persistence. When campus leaders model balanced lifestyles and reinforce accurate norms, they help create a ripple effect that strengthens the entire Mizzou community.
Resources for Faculty and Staff
These brief, ready-to-use statements can be used in event promotions, introductions, or closing remarks to emphasize the link between health, belonging, and academic achievement:
- “Mizzou students who prioritize sleep, nutrition, and connection perform better academically and feel more engaged on campus.”
- “Taking time to recharge helps you show up as your best self—both in and out of the classroom.”
- “Balancing social life and academics is part of learning to thrive at Mizzou.”
- “Most Mizzou students make choices that keep them and their friends safe.”
- “As Tigers, we support one another by celebrating safely and caring for our community.”
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