Student mental health continues to be one of the most pressing challenges facing schools and universities today. According to Gallup research, 54% of students who considered leaving college cited emotional stress, while 43% cited mental health challenges as contributing factors. At the same time, students are navigating unprecedented levels of digital engagement, academic pressure, social comparison, and uncertainty about emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.

As educators and healthcare leaders search for solutions, a critical question emerges: How can schools provide meaningful mental health support at scale while meeting students where they already live, learn, and communicate?

On this episode of Dialed In on the Virtual Care Journey, host Becca Bean, Senior Vice President of Dialcare, and co-host Jeremy Hedrick, Chief Operations Officer of Dialcare, sit down with Andrew Dillon, CEO and Co-Founder of Upliftly. Together, they explore how digital self-care tools, telehealth solutions, and preventative mental wellness resources can help students build resilience, reduce stigma, and access support before mental health challenges escalate into crises.

Key Takeaways from the Episode

• Student mental health requires a continuum of care. From self-guided wellness resources to teletherapy and counseling services, students benefit most when they have multiple pathways to support.

• Digital solutions can complement—not replace—traditional counseling. Accessible, anonymous, and available 24/7, digital mental wellness tools can help students develop coping skills while reducing pressure on overwhelmed counseling centers.

• The future of student wellness is preventative. Schools are increasingly recognizing mental fitness and emotional resilience as essential components of student success, much like physical health and fitness.

Andrew Dillon is the CEO and Co-Founder of Upliftly, a digital mental wellness platform focused on supporting students through self-guided mental health and well-being resources. With more than 25 years of experience in communication technology and digital media, Dillon has founded four companies and remains a passionate advocate for student mental health. His work centers on leveraging technology to expand access to wellness resources and create more inclusive, scalable support systems for students. Beyond his work in technology and education, Dillon is also the producer of the family feature film Hope Dances, which promotes themes of perseverance and personal growth.