Olivia Coghe, Creative Director

It’s the beginning of the school year – which means parties, late night talks, and freedom! Or for some people – anxiety, stress, and depression. College is a wonderful time to slowly take hold of your new-found freedom and explore opportunities for your adult life. This is exciting but can also bring unwanted mental health issues. Mental health and selfcare are the two most important things you can do for yourself in college. When you take care of these two things, it can impact your life positively and put you on an upward swing for the semester. Not everyone can do this on their own though, and that’s okay – there are resources on and off campus that can help shape your school year into a less stressful one.

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Some resources involve other people, while others you can take advantage of right from your bed. If you are someone who doesn’t have a lot of time or doesn’t want to be around people – websites and apps are an option.

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Taking some time to yourself for meditation is a great practice even if you aren’t feeling stressed. Meditation allows you to take a few minutes for yourself and clears the mind. There are many apps that can aid in the process of meditation. Two of the most popular apps include calm and headspace which are available on both IOS and android – though calm is not free. Each app asks you to set an intention for your meditation as well as your experience. Each is a little different in the way it approaches your meditation; headspace walks you through it, so you eventually learn the practice on your own, while calm has several different options like nature sounds and music, as well as walkthroughs. Which app you choose should be based on your skill level and experience with meditation.

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Ulifeline.com is a website for college students seeking mental health information and resources. You can input your university to access information about programs provided on your campus, along with contact information – yes, Penn State Behrend is a school in their system. There is also a section that gives information about wellness and changes you can make that may help your mental health. This includes providing facts and links to articles about good wellness habits you can incorporate easily. Lastly, there are lists of numbers you can call or text if you are looking for a fast resource or someone to talk to.

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If you feel like you want to talk in person or need a little extra help, meeting with on- campus counselors or joining a support group or organization could be for you. You can use the Ulifeline website to find information about the school’s programs for mental health, or you can simply visit Behrend’s website. There are many different services available to students like individual counseling, psychiatric services, support groups, programs on topics of well-being, and more. You can also seek help from the campus ministry if that is a setting that is more comfortable.

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There are a variety of resources out there to help create a less stressful college experience. Taking care of your mental health doesn’t have to be an “all or nothing” thing – you can take small steps to see what works and work to build on what you learn. If you’re more introverted, perhaps the websites and phone apps could be very useful for you. Others might seek a personal connection for help through a counselor or support group. Mental health is just as important as physical health, especially in the fast-paced college world. Additionally, these practices and resources can be carried through the rest of your life, benefitting you even after you have graduated.