Results of an impact evaluation of Canada's Student Mental Health Network

Canada's Student Mental Health Network provides centralized and universal access to evidence-based mental health education and resources tailored specifically to postsecondary students. We conducted a summative impact evaluation to assess the feasibility, accessibility, and utility of the Network during the 2024-2025 academic year. A concurrent mixed methods design was used, combining four waves of online surveys (total n = 2050) and 14 focus groups (total n = 41). Surveys assessed mental health outcomes, mental health literacy, perceived social support, barriers to help-seeking, and frequency of Network use. Quantitative results showed significant improvements across all mental health outcomes for women, with no significant changes observed among men or non-binary participants. About 500 students reported using the Network during the evaluation period. Among users, frequency of use increased significantly over the year, this change largely driven by women. More frequent use was associated with lower mental health literacy and greater perceived barriers to help-seeking. Focus groups explored students' experiences engaging with the space and recommendations for improvement. Participants valued the Network's credibility, accessibility, and breadth of resources, while identifying the need for more subgroup-specific content, stronger promotion, and improved navigation. Findings support the Network as a feasible and acceptable tool to support student mental health, aligning with results from an earlier process evaluation. Preliminary evidence of utility was observed, particularly among women, with use linked to positive changes in mental health. Student recommendations will be used to guide improvements to broaden reach and promotion across Canada, expand available resources, and enhance the website's accessibility and navigation. • Network perceived as a credible and comprehensive resource. • Increased frequency of use over time driven primarily by women. • Use linked to improved mental health outcomes among women. • Use linked to greater perceived barriers and lower mental health literacy. • Students recommended expanded content, promotion, and improved navigation.