What's Changed at the University of North Dakota Since Its 2021 Tragedy?

Elizabeth Bjerke, an associate dean at the University of North Dakota, discusses what's changed at her school since the death of flight student John Hauser, and what changes are still to come.

Elizabeth Bjerke, an associate dean at the University of North Dakota. [YouTube Screenshot]

Key Takeaways:

The death of University of North Dakota flight student John Hauser in October 2021, possibly a suicide linked to depression, significantly amplified the focus on mental health issues within the aviation industry and on college campuses.
Inspired by Hauser's legacy, UND has since hosted a mental health summit to address these concerns and is implementing changes to enhance student support.
Elizabeth Bjerke, an associate dean at UND, is a key coordinator of these efforts, aiming to improve mental health support for aviation students.

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In October of 2021, University of North Dakota flight student John Hauser was killed as the result of an airplane accident. It was later determined that he suffered from depression and that the crash may have been a suicide.

“Although there had been conversations within the industry and on campuses about mental health issues, John’s death certainly amplified those efforts,” UND president Andy Armacost said at a mental health summit hosted by UND in December. “His legacy inspires all of us to make sure we get this right, and that we support our students to the best of our abilities.”

As part of FLYING‘s Mental Health Roundtable, Elizabeth Bjerke, an associate dean at UND, and a main coordinator of the summit, talks about what changes the school has made since that tragedy.