Tag Archives: Mental Health Awareness

Health & Wellness

May Mental Health Awareness Month

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As students of Millersville University, May marks not only the beginning of summer but also Mental Health Awareness Month. This is a significant time dedicated to recognizing and understanding the challenges faced by individuals dealing with mental illness. Unfortunately, there remains a stigma surrounding mental health globally, a challenge especially prevalent among young adults, including college students like us.

During this month, we have a unique opportunity to unite as individuals, organizations, and a community to promote mental well-being and extend support to those grappling with mental health issues. Throughout May, you can expect various events, campaigns, and initiatives aimed at educating and raising awareness about mental health, fostering understanding, and promoting mental wellness. It’s a crucial time for us to engage in conversations about mental health and collectively strive towards creating a more supportive and empathetic society for everyone, including ourselves.

Navigating college life can be overwhelming at times, and having a robust support system is essential. Remember, you are not alone. If you ever find yourself in need of support or someone to talk to, please know that there are resources available right here at Millersville University.

At MU, we have a range of mental health resources tailored to meet our needs as students. From counseling services to support groups, there are avenues for seeking assistance and finding community. Additionally, keep an eye out for pet therapy that occurs in the SMC once a week for two hours.  Light therapy is also offered at the Counseling Center throughout both the fall and spring semesters.

It’s okay to acknowledge that college life comes with its own set of challenges. Academic pressures, social dynamics, and the transition into adulthood can all contribute to feelings of stress and anxiety. However, it’s essential to recognize that help is within reach.

As fellow Millersville University students, let’s come together to prioritize our mental well-being and support one another through the ups and downs of college life. Whether it’s reaching out to a friend, attending a campus event, or seeking professional help, let’s take proactive steps towards nurturing our mental health.

Remember, your well-being matters, and there is strength in seeking support. Together, we can create a campus community that values mental health and fosters a culture of care and compassion.

Stay strong, stay connected, and remember that you are not alone.

COUNSELING CENTER

3rd Floor Lyle hall

Phone: 717-871-7821

Fax: 717-871-7960

Hours of Operation

      • Mon., Tues., Thur., Fri. from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
      • Wed. from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
      • Any changes to regularly scheduled hours will be posted in the Counseling Center.

For help with a mental health crisis or emergency after Counseling Center hours, please call:

        • MU Police at 911
        • Crisis Intervention (Lancaster): 717-394-2631
        • National Suicide Hotline: 988
        • Crisis TEXT Hotline: text “HELLO” to 741741
Advice, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle / Hall Life

6 Tips for Enhancing Your Mental Health

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Mental health is something that is brought to students’ attention. Realizing that you need to take a break, relax, and do more of what makes you happy and more relaxed is important. Here is a list of things that can help you focus more on your mental health. 

Plant a garden:
Planting flowers or fruits and vegetables at home is a great way to dive into the spring vibes. Flowers are always very colorful and can bring life to your yard or your room. If you go home, you could spend time with friends and family planting flowers. 

Read books:
Finding good books to read, laying outside, and relaxing is something that is so easy, but yet overlooked too often. You could also swap books with friends. For example, each person buys a book and then, after reading, they swap it so they can enjoy the same book. 

Go to your closest coffee shop:
Finding a coffee shop that is close to you that you can visit is a convenient way to destress. Simply reading, spending time with friends, or just grabbing coffee by yourself is something that is very therapeutic and simple. The environment in coffee shops is something that many college students enjoy. 

Watch movies:
Going on streaming platforms, like Netflix or Hulu for example, can be a great inexpensive night with friends and family. You can find a lot of new movies that were recently released, such as, comedies, romance, horror, documentaries, and other genres. 

Exercising:
Going to your local gym or even taking a walk outside of your neighborhood is a healthy way to get your mind off of stress. For example, walking a dog, stretching beforehand, listening to music, and putting your phone on “do not disturb” are great ways to establish an exercise routine. 

Puzzles:
Assembling jigsaw puzzles is really beneficial for your brain and lets you relax in peace and quiet. This activity also lets you put down your phone for awhile. It is easy to find inexpensive puzzles at Walmart, Target and Amazon. Also, you can give a puzzle to a friend once you have completed it. 

Once again,  do not forget to take breaks during the remainder of the semester. This is a great way to focus on your mental health and overall wellness. What is something you do to relax and enhance your own mental health? Please leave a comment below or reply to our accompanying Instagram post!

Health & Wellness, Lifestyle / Hall Life, Lists

Finding the Motivation to Finish Strong

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After spring break it is hard to find the motivation to do anything. It is even harder now that all courses have moved online. The semester feels like it will never end and it is hard not feeling drained. It is important, however, to keep working hard towards your goals. Here are some ways in which to stay motivated for the rest of the semester.

Remember what you are working for.

It is safe to say, that if you are in college then you desire to learn and grow into the person you want to be. Remember that in order to learn you need to do the work and show up for the Zoom meetings that your professors may have set up. It may be hard, but it will be worth it in the end.

It’s okay to change your mind.

Sometimes you need to change your goal or the steps to achieving that goal. It is okay to change your mind as long as you don’t give up entirely. I have changed my major multiple times as well as what I want to do after I graduate.

Change your HOW.

Instead of just trying to get your work done, turn your mindset into doing the task right. Instead of waiting till the last minute to do a paper or project start them early. This will help ensure you are doing them right and will cause you less stress.

Remember the feeling.

Keep in mind how it felt to get one step closer to your goal. It always feels good when a project or paper is done. Every assignment and test gets you just a little bit closer to your goal. It will feel even better at the end of this semester.

Find a meaningful quote.

Finding  a quote that means something to you may seem insignificant, but could help in the long run. We all need a little motivation to get us through the tough times.

My favorite motivational quote is:

Play to your strengths.

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. It is important that you play to your strengths instead of letting yourself be discouraged by your weaknesses. If you don’t like online classes because you don’t feel focused enough try to think of your strengths. This could help you find a way past the difficulties you will face.

It has been rough on students, faculty and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. We just have to remember our EPPIIC Values and try to finish this semester strong.

Events / Programs, Social Advocacy / Justice

Glowing Through The Darkness Event

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The Center for Health Education and Promotion will be partnering with the Social Advocacy Living Learning Community and Lambda Chi Alpha to host Glowing Through the Darkness. This event supports mental health awareness and participants will be able to walk, roll or run around the quad in the Mental Health Awareness Mile. The event will also have information and activity tables. By participating in the event, you will be supporting those who are affected by suicide and mental health. Engaging in the event will also take the first steps towards breaking the stigma around mental health. Mental Health is very important and affects many people here at Millersville, so it is crucial that we acknowledge it and support those who are affected.

 Glowing Through the Darkness will take place on April 25th from 7-8pm. Check-in will start at 6:30pm on the quad. After the Mental Health Awareness Mile, there will be a glow party for students which will celebrate life in the SMC MPR starting at 8pm. To sign up for the event, there is a link below or you can register at the MU ticket booth.

Make sure to come out and support those affected by mental health and suicide.

Register through this link ! For more information on the Social Advocacy Living Learning Community click here. We hope to see you there!

 

 

Health & Wellness, Lists

National Mental Health Awareness Week: Tips on How to De-stress

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October 7- 13, 2018 is National Mental Health Awareness Week (Also known as Mental Illness Awareness Week). This week is important because it brings awareness to the crucial topic of mental health and mental illnesses. In a recent study from spring 2017, researchers from the American College Health Association found that nearly 40% of college students said they felt so depressed it was difficult to function (Reilly, 2018). The researchers also found that 61% of college students said they had felt “overwhelming anxiety.”  Anxiety, depression, stress and sadness are all challenges that college students face , but there are many resources and ways to cope with these challenges.

To help you cope with stress and anxiety here is a list of tips and tricks on how to de-stress and relax.

  1. Make minor adjustments to your room.

A cluttered space can make you feel disorganized. One way to create a less stressful environment is to open your bedroom blinds to let natural light into your space. Students can also decorate their rooms in soothing colors such as light blue or grey. These colors may make you feel calm . Another option is to buy a small plant. Plants bring life to the room and give you a chance to take care of a living being.

  1. Take time to read a book.

One of the best things to do when stressed out is to engross yourself in a book. Some of the best books to read during stressful times are motivational or inspiring works. Examples of books that help you feel great again are Eat, Pray, Love, The 5 Second Rule, or Milk and Honey. 

  1. Write in a journal.

Putting pen to paper is one of the best ways to avoid stress. If you write out your troubles, it can help you express your worries and help you assess the situation with fresh eyes. Writing in a journal can also help you to recognize when you overcame obstacles and give you the confidence to overcome obstacles in the future.

  1. Plan and get work done ahead of time.

Personally, one of the best tips when it comes to lessening stress is to plan ahead to get work done. There are so many deadlines for assignments, and students tend to get overwhelmed and forget to do them. If students make the switch to writing out deadlines in the beginning of the semester and using free time to complete work, they can get ahead and alleviate the stress of completing the assignment on time.

  1. Turn off your phone.

Sometimes phones can do more harm than good. They can produce constant worry about likes, retweets or receiving messages back, that by the end of the day this adds stress. Turning phones off for a couple minutes a day can help to relieve stress and give more time to think or do other activities.

  1. Visit the University Counseling Center.

Millersville has  resources on campus such as the Center for Counseling and Human Development where students can set up counseling appointments to talk about their stress or anxiety. The Center for Counseling and Human Development will also be introducing light box therapy starting October 2nd, which can help students who experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or depression during the winter months.

  1. Just breathe.

This may sound cheesy, but it can really help in any situation. If you take a deep breathe, it can slow thinking down and release built up tensions. It can also bring the realization that things will be okay and to just be patient.

 

Photos courtesy of Canva. 

Reilly, K. (2018, March 19). Anxiety and Depression: More College Students Seeking Help. Retrieved from http://time.com/5190291/anxiety-depression-college-university-students/