Student Wellness Center

Welcome to our Student Wellness Center, developed to provide support for our community of creative students. Pursuing higher education can be challenging. We invite you to review and use these resources, including strategies to manage stress and enhance self-care, to support your academic journey.

We encourage students to reach out to their Student Advisors and instructors if they are experiencing anything that could hinder their academic progress. For immediate access to wellness resources, please utilize this page.

NOTE: This resource page is not a substitute for professional mental or medical advice. If you are experiencing an immediate crisis, the fastest way to get help is to call 911 (United States) or your country’s general emergency line. We encourage you to see your physician or mental health provider for specific issues.

Helping Others

If you are concerned about someone who is struggling with their mental health, there are some things that you can do to help them through difficult times.

You can start by frequently checking in with them, but try not to bring up what’s bothering them too much unless they want to talk about it. Approach communication with a warm, encouraging tone and avoid making the situation about you.

Sometimes someone may not know exactly what they want when you ask them. In this case, you can offer to hang out with them, invite them to an event or gathering, or offer to help them with something like errands, chores, or fixing something. They may still refuse, but keep reassuring them that you love and care about them.

Places to Find Help

If you are worried that your friend may seriously hurt themselves or others, you can…

• Call 988, the national crisis and suicide prevention lifeline
• Call 911 (US)
• Offer to take your friend or loved one to a psychiatric urgent care

If you are concerned about police getting involved, there are options! Mobile crisis teams are a very good, community-based alternative. The best way to find one is to search online for mobile crisis teams in your city, state, or country. You can read more about Mobile Crisis Teams (MCT) (NAMI) here and here.

Practicing Self-Care

Self-care is defined as what people do for themselves to stay healthy and prevent disease and illness. It covers many topics like sleep, physical activity, connection with others, work-life balance, and mindfulness.

Physiological needs (air, water, food, shelter, sleep, and clothing) are the foundation of our daily needs, meaning if you are hungry or tired, it might be difficult for you to focus on your school work. That is why taking care of yourself is so important.

Nutrition

You’d be surprised at how much eating nutrient-dense foods can have a positive effect on your mental health and overall brain function. According to this article from the Harvard Medical School Health Blog, “Eating high-quality foods that contain lots of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants nourishes the brain and protects it from oxidative stress—the ‘waste’ (free radicals) produced when the body uses oxygen, which can damage brain cells”.

Scientists have even found a link between cognitive and gut function, meaning the more that you prioritize consuming nutritious foods, the better you can think and make decisions throughout the day.

You can review some of the resources here for more information on how good nutrition can support your mental health and information about healthy eating habits.

As always, we recommend you reach out to your doctor if you have any specific questions regarding nutrition or eating habits.

Sleep

It’s no secret that not getting enough sleep can lead you to become scattered and irritable. Busy adults who work long hours and parents are especially susceptible to being sleep deprived. Having poor sleep for a few nights is not a big deal, but chronic sleep deprivation can decrease your cognitive functioning and can certainly affect your mental health.

This is why as students, it’s important to prioritize sleep, even though you may feel you have to sacrifice it in order to get things done. You need all the brain power you can get when you’re in school, so try to fit in at least 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep.

You can review some of the resources here for more information on how sleep affects your mental health and tips for better sleep.

It’s always best to ask your doctor if you are experiencing chronic sleep issues.

Physical Activity

Find some kind of physical activity that you enjoy and is easy to continue doing. It doesn’t have to be intense and don’t feel pressured to go to the gym! Just going for a walk around the neighborhood is an underrated form of exercise. Even better, find an activity that you can do with a friend, a family member, with your dog, or join a local group. Facebook or Meetup can be a good starting place to find exercise groups in your area.

Finding a physical activity that you enjoy not only helps keep you physically healthy, but can also enhance your mental health. According to this Harvard medical blog, the four best types of exercise are aerobic (walking, running, cycling, and so on), as well as stretching, strength training, and balance training.

One of the best things about exercise is that it releases endorphins, which are the “feel good” chemicals that can help relieve stress, anxiety, and depression.

You can explore some of these resources, but if you have any questions about what kind of exercise would be best for you, we encourage you to reach out to your doctor.

Stretching

Stretching, conventionally, means moving or holding various parts of the body in ways that extend the muscles, according to the American Council on Exercise. The goal is to increase flexibility and range of motion. Think about the quad stretch that your cycling instructor might guide you through after a ride—standing upright, you grab the top of one foot, bend that same knee, and pull your foot up toward your glutes, stretching the quadriceps muscle on that side.

Somatic stretching refers to the release of muscular tension through gentle movement and an awareness of how your muscles feel in various positions and movements. It’s based on natural, unintentional movements, such as the stretching that naturally takes place when you stand up after sitting for long stretches of time or when you make circles with your feet after you take off a pair of tight-fitting shoes. You can watch this video on stretching to find out more.

Connecting With Others

We are innately social creatures who desire to be around people we feel safe around and accept us for who we are. To avoid loneliness and maintain your social skills, make intentional, uninterrupted time to connect with at least one or two people a week such as a family member or a friend, or even strike up a conversation with someone when you’re running your errands.

When it comes to friendships, finding and maintaining them as adults can be hard. Try joining local clubs or organizations that share your interests. Can’t find one? Try starting one of your own! Volunteering is also a great way to find friends and support your local community. Generally, we feel better when we know we’re helping others in some way, so getting involved in your community is one way to make a difference. You can even try getting to know your neighbors, if you haven’t already.

We know how difficult it can be to balance work, school, friends, and family, so feel free to peruse any of the resources provided here.

Work-Life Balance

Balancing your multiple roles in life such as being a friend, partner, parent, employee, and student can be challenging. Achieving work-life balance doesn’t happen all at once and there is no “easy” button! Focusing on making small adjustments in your life, such as taking a breath or a walk or drinking a glass of water, can really make a difference, as your view of your multiple responsibilities might seem more manageable.

A good starting point is to set manageable goals and communicate them with your team. Consider setting boundaries for yourself and your coworkers distinguishing between your work time and your personal time.