The Impact of @UAZCampusHealth’s Social Media in Supporting Student Health and Wellness

At the University of Arizona’s Campus Health, social media plays a vital role in promoting student health and wellness and providing students with reliable, accessible, and relevant information to support their well-being.  

Meeting Students Where They Are 

With more than 11,000 followers across three main social media accounts and over one million impressions in the last academic year, Campus Health’s social media strategy is a key pillar of its health communication, education, and marketing efforts. These platforms allow Campus Health to connect with students in meaningful ways in a space students frequent.  On social media, Campus Health delivers bite-sized health and wellness tips, highlighting valuable services, and fostering a culture of well-being on campus. 

“We know from our survey data that students turn to @UAZCampusHealth as a trusted and accessible source for health and wellness content,” said Carrie Johnson, Health Communications Manager at Campus Health. “That insight guides what we post, ensuring our content remains engaging, evidence-based, and student-centered and also what social platforms we focus our energies on, which is Instagram.” 

Student-Focused & Data-Driven  

Campus Health’s social media presence is designed to educate and engage students with health and wellness content.  Their strategy is focused on four elements: promoting health-supportive behaviors, increasing awareness of Campus Health’s services and programs, encouraging participation in wellness initiatives, and strengthening the Campus Health brand.

“A successful social media presence starts with a strong strategy—it’s a compass that guides your approach and aligns with your organization’s vision, mission, and values,” said Carrie Johnson. “To know if we’re making an impact, we need to look beyond platform metrics of likes, shares, etc.—we need to ask our followers and really listen. That’s where the idea for the survey started.” 

Over the past six years, Campus Health’s Social Media Survey has consistently demonstrated the positive impact of @UAZCampusHealth’s content on student health and wellness.  The data shows that @UAZCampusHealth's social media increases health and wellness knowledge while encouraging positive behavior changes among their followers.   

94% of followers surveyed learned something new from Campus Health’s posts, including how to care for their mental health, details about campus events, how to make appointments, join student groups, and even that health insurance isn’t required to use Campus Health. 

Beyond increasing knowledge, Campus Health’s social media drives action. 77% of followers reported making or considering positive health changes based on the content they’ve seen—ranging from scheduling appointments with CAPS and getting flu shots to exploring new campus activities and building social connections. 

Additionally, students are more likely to use Campus Health services, attend programs and events, and engage with Campus Health because of its social media presence. 

Explore the 2024 Campus Health Social Media QuickLook for a concise overview of key metrics and insights. 

Strategically leveraging social media is just one of the many ways Campus Health supports student health, with students at the center of it all, empowering them to take charge of their health and wellness.