WEST VIRGINIA (WVDN) – West Virginia Junior College (WVJC) and Moodr Health, partners in a groundbreaking pilot program aimed at prioritizing mental health within nursing education, say their initiative this year was so successful, the program has expanded. A second cohort of 50 nursing students at WVJC’s Charleston campus has embarked on their rigorous academic journey with Moodr Health’s proven-effective mental health support technology.
In recognition of their shared commitment to proactive mental health support, Moodr Health, a trailblazing digital healthcare solution, has awarded WVJC with its second Moodr Early Innovator Grant Award valued at $12,375. The grant will be used to continue to provide these mental health resources to its nursing students.
Understanding the demanding nature of the WVJC nursing curriculum, the partnership between Moodr Health and WVJC aims to set a new standard for mental health support in healthcare education across the state.
“We’ve seen nursing student satisfaction grow, retention improve, and most importantly, they now have a vital support system for the challenges they face,” said Kelly Pauley, Director of Nursing at WVJC Charleston Campus.
The majority of WVJC’s student body comprises non-traditional adult learners, balancing academic pursuits with external responsibilities such as work and family obligations. This demographic faces unique stressors, particularly in the accelerated 18-month nursing program offered by WVJC, which condenses the content of traditional two-year programs.
“Offering this kind of support isn’t just a benefit – it’s a lifeline that helps students thrive,” Pauley added.
How It Works
At the heart of this collaboration is the innovative Moodr Health digital platform, a remote patient monitoring tool that offers HIPAA-compliant text messaging and telehealth outreach services. It was developed to address the need for advanced notification of mental health challenges through objective data and relevant surveys. Designed to be user-friendly for both providers and patients, the platform gives healthcare providers prompt warning signs of mood changes, helping providers prevent, intervene, and treat mental health challenges early.
For the collaboration with WVJC, Moodr Health adapted its typical healthcare provider and patient model to include Life Coach Navigators for the nursing students. College officials say the navigators are providing personalized support and helping students manage stress.
A recent case study conducted on the first cohort of WVJC nursing students using the Moodr platform showed a 100% satisfaction rate, with all students rating the program 5 out of 5. Additionally, the students’ response rate to outreach from Life Coach Navigators was 90%.
Chad Callen, CEO of WVJC, said as the program evolves, he can visualize the expansion of the Moodr platform into diverse learning environments.
“Looking ahead, I think there’s great potential to improve student outcomes by advancing how we use student data to drive predictive analytics and proactive engagement,” said Callen.
“Partnering with Moodr Health has been a pivotal step forward for WVJC and provides our nursing students with the tools they need to thrive academically and personally, preparing them for critical roles in our healthcare system.”
Moodr Health is excited to expand its support to a second cohort of nursing students at WVJC, enabling the program to reach even more of WVJC’s dedicated student population. With a positive impact on student satisfaction, retention, and mental health, this partnership continues to grow stronger. As the collaboration moves forward, Moodr Health hopes to extend these valuable resources to more students, empowering them to thrive both academically and personally. Together, Moodr Health and WVJC are shaping the future of mental health support in nursing education.
