Join us in celebrating World Mental Health Day on Thursday, October 10. World Mental Health Day seeks to promote mental wellbeing and tactics for improving overall mental health with an emphasis on suicide prevention. Here are some tips and exercises you can try to better your own聽mental health.
Ask yourself: how am I doing?
With a busy class schedule, work obligations, relationships and other commitments, it can be difficult to tell what you need at any given moment. That's why it's important to take a step back and ask yourself how you're doing on a regular basis. Taking time to reflect on different areas of your life can help you make adjustments and re-direct your energy where it's most needed. Here are a few questions you can ask yourself:
Based on your own responses, you may identify areas in your life that feel out of balance. Reflecting on your needs regularly can help you to adjust your priorities and put your energy into the areas that need it most. If it feels like many areas of your life feel out of place, it may be helpful to talk to someone about ways to better align your life with your values.聽
Make self care a habit
Self-care is important for your mental health, but it can be challenging to find quality "me time". One exercise you can practice is to write down 3 things that you want to commit to doing for your wellbeing. Put a reminder in your phone that repeats each month with a list of your 3 commitments. When you get the reminder, reflect on how you've been doing. Have you been keeping up with your self-care activities? If the answer is no, think of ways that you can incorporate them into your normal schedule or create a designated time for them in your planner.
Here are some self-care ideas that you can try:
Mindfulness exercises
Practicing mindfulness can help you re-direct your attention away from negative thoughts to engage with yourself and the world around you. Here are two mindfulness techniques that you can practice:
Seal your thoughts
For this exercise, you will close your eyes. Think of a feeling or thought that has been nagging you, whether it's hunger, frustration, guilt, stress or something else.聽Now picture that thought or feeling, and place it into a container. Seal the container, and send it off. As an example, if you are feeling frustrated, picture that frustration and place it into a box. Tape the box shut, and throw the box into the air. Repeat this exercise for several minutes with all of your negative thoughts or feelings.聽
Silence your thoughts
For this exercise, you will close your eyes. Think of a feeling or thought that has been nagging you, and give it a name (hunger, frustration, guilt, stress, etc.). Repeat the word in your mind, starting loud and getting quieter with each repetition. You should feel the emotion behind your word start to dissepate until it is quieted. Repeat this exercise several times with any remaining negative thoughts or feelings.聽
Campus resources
Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS)
CAPS uses a short-term care model for individual counseling and psychiatry, so they can work with each student to create a personalized care plan specific to their needs and make recommendations or referrals for ongoing care in the community as needed. Students can access help through walk-in hours, workshops, therapy groups, Let's Talk consultations and their 24/7 crisis line (303-492-2277).
OVA provides free and confidential services to CU Boulder students, staff and faculty who have experienced a traumatic or disruptive life event. They provide information, consultations, support, advocacy聽and short-term counseling.
Health Promotion
Health Promotion聽provides outreach聽and teaches聽students relevant skills to make informed decisions about their health.聽Health Promotion聽collaborates with student groups and campus departments in providing programs and services that positively influence student health. Programs include Peer Wellness Coaching, workshops, wellness-related events and training opportunities.
CU Collegiate Recovery Center (CUCRC)
The CUCRC provides support for students in recovery or seeking recovery from substance use and other addictions. The CUCRC is here to help students develop peer-to-peer connections and resiliency. They also provide students, staff and alumni with recovery-related services and resources.
Student Support and Case Management (SSCM)
SSCM聽provides support to students throughout their college career to help them achieve their academic and personal goals. They can help identify issues and resources and work聽collaboratively with students聽to develop a personal action plan.