# A Comprehensive approach to cultivating student mental well-being and resilience through meditation, community, and leadership

> **NIH NIH T32** · HARVARD UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $47,952

## Abstract

Abstract
This proposal requests additional support to implement a multi-faceted meditation program that
cultivates wellness, resilience and leadership among Harvard graduate students in the
biomedical sciences. The SKY Campus Happiness program teaches students tools to cultivate
wellbeing and resilience, create positive-minded community, and nurture empathetic leadership.
The SKY Campus Happiness program is a psychosocial, three component curriculum that
incorporates evidence-based breathing techniques, meditation, belongingness and leadership.
The SKY Program’s cornerstone practice is an evidence-based, rhythmic breathing meditation
called Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY). We will collaborate with the Chemical Biology Ph.D.
program and Molecules, Cells, and Organisms Ph.D. program on pilot programming, which will
be available to their students as well as others in the Harvard Integrated Life Sciences
Consortium (HILS).
The full curriculum will consist of 3 components: a weekend workshop where students learn the
SKY technique, a Silent Retreat, and a Leadership Training. Students are not required to
complete all three components, and will have the opportunity for deeper self-reflection and
development through the second and third components. This supplement will be used to
support the implementation of SKY Campus Happiness programming on Harvard’s campus and
ongoing activities to support the student community.
The mental health of college students has steadily declined over the last decade, with increased
prevalence of depression and rates of suicide. University counseling centers are struggling to
serve a growing demand. Students need a broader set of tools and community to support their
well-being. The SKY Campus Happiness Program will broaden the tools available to support
mental well-being and resilience at Harvard to better prepare students for competitive careers in
a variety of settings.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10393365
- **Project number:** 3T32GM135014-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Timothy J Mitchison
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $47,952
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10393365

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10393365, A Comprehensive approach to cultivating student mental well-being and resilience through meditation, community, and leadership (3T32GM135014-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10393365. Licensed CC0.

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