Loneliness has a profound impact on mental health, especially among GenZ youth in the U.S.
Higher education leaders are facing unprecedented challenges in meeting the demand for student mental health resources and services. Every new school year, the number of students in need increases: in a recent survey of more than 500 counseling center directors, nearly 90% reported experiencing an increase in demand for counseling services in the past year. The COVID-19 pandemic brings additional complications as it disrupts the traditional in-person delivery channels commonly used for prevention programs and care.
Enter Nod. Developed in partnership with Grit Digital Health, the Nod app for college campuses offers higher education leaders a research-backed tool they can confidently share with students, knowing it addresses two critical threats to student mental health: loneliness and depression.
Nod uses evidence-based practices including principles of positive psychology, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing and mindfulness self-compassion to equip students with the skills to build social connections whether they are on-campus or remote.
In a 2019 randomized controlled trial conducted with 221 first-year college students, four weeks of Nod use prevented loneliness and depression among those students most at risk at the start of the year. Additionally, there were similar patterns of improved outcomes for sleep quality, campus belonging, social support, and intention to return to college among students who used Nod compared to those who were in a control group, according to results published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research Mental Health (JMH).
Each year Fast Company highlights the best new apps and games in various categories. Nod received recognition as a finalist in both the Social Good and Apps & Games categories.