Campus Cultures to Support Mental Health

Students, parents, teachers, administrators, and other staff members all contribute to their school’s culture, as do other influences such as the community in which the school is located, the policies that govern how it operates, or the principles upon which the school was founded.

Mental health and wellbeing in higher education

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1. Mental health and wellbeing in higher education

2. Lessons from the pandemic for higher education

3. Below are recommendations for managing mental health — whether students are on or off campus.

3.1. 1. Good Physical Health

3.2. 2. Effective Time Management

3.3. 3. Self-Tracking For Mental Wellness

3.4. 4. Practice Mindfulness

3.5. 5. Avoid Drug and Alcohol

3.6. Campus Cultures to Support Mental Health article by Gardenia Blog.

Students reported more stress and anxiety due to the COVID-19 outbreak

Aiming to enhance the coverage of mental health services with insurance companies, the number of private providers who accept insurance or referrals for a given insurance type, and the concentration of providers in any given area. The challenges for colleges and universities, aligned with the state of U.S. mental health services generally, serves as a challenge to campus students.
( Campus Cultures to Support Mental Health )

Lessons from the pandemic for higher education

CDC: COVID-19, can make us feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety

Below are recommendations for managing mental health — whether students are on or off campus.

1. Good Physical Health

To prioritize mental and physical health, incorporate healthy foods, physical activity, and social support into daily life.

Re-evaluate your *physical health* and wellbeing on daily and weekly basis.

2. Effective Time Management

It is important to not only manage time but also energy and mental wellness. Using a time management app helps to stay organized before tasks begin piling up. Developing a consistent schedule not only helps reduce everyday stressors but improves overall mental well-being.

Healthy time management: as going to the gym, taking a walk, reading a book or calling a special friend.

3. Self-Tracking For Mental Wellness

Maintaining a journal to track mental health concerns helps to stay in tune with feelings and emotions. However, if negative feelings and symptoms are getting worse, students should seek immediate mental health support from health professionals.

Go out and grab a journal that you love and begin daily journaling or go digital.

4. Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a type of meditation in which you focus on being intensely aware of what you’re sensing and feeling in the moment, without interpretation or judgment. Practicing mindfulness involves breathing methods, guided imagery, and other practices to relax the body and mind and help reduce stress.

5. Avoid Drug and Alcohol

Do not use drugs and alcohol to ease the symptoms of an undiagnosed mental health condition. Substances may offer short-term relief of symptoms but cause detrimental long-term effects in the long-term. Drugs and alcohol can worsen or trigger symptoms, leading to more mental health problems.

Try not to take *drugs* or drink when you are feeling down or anxious.

Read More About Mental Health Here
Know How to Practice Mindfulness Here