In honor of World Mental Health Day, Hokie Wellness is highlighting mental health resources available to students. From flexible counseling options to innovative techniques for dealing with stress, Virginia Tech offers support for students’ holistic well-being.
Hokie Wellness is hosting a World Mental Health Day event on Oct. 10 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Commonwealth Ballroom B of Squires Student Center. The event is open to students, faculty, and staff. Learn about Virginia Tech’s well-being resources and indulge in free self-care activities, including the following:
- A tea bar
- Coloring and glitter jars
- Therapy dogs cuddle sessions from 3:30-4:40 p.m.
- APIDA+ Center nail salon from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Need to talk to someone?
For in-person counseling, students can schedule a Cook Connect Session through Cook Counseling Center. At this initial meeting, a clinician will review student concerns, discuss available resources, and collaboratively develop a support plan.
For students seeking immediate or virtual care, Virginia Tech and the Cook Counseling Center have partnered with TimelyCare. TimelyCare offers free health and well-being resources that are designed for college students:
- TalkNow, a service that offers unlimited and on-demand mental health support 24/7
- Twelve scheduled counseling sessions per academic year, available to all students located in the United States
- Health coaching resources
- Self-guided care modules, such as Self-Care for Healthy Eating, Self-Care for Healthy Relationships, and A Journey to Bouncing Back
Erica Coates, Community Resiliency Model coordinator, said the student response to TimelyCare has been overwhelmingly positive.
“We have heard that students find the platform very easy and quick to use, and they love the after-hours appointments and choices of providers to work with,” said Coates. “Students also find that TalkNow helps them calm down, feel heard, and then get new perspective or skills to move forward.”
TimelyCare users report finding the service helpful:
- 74 percent of Virginia Tech patients reported a mental health improvement after a TimelyCare visit.
- Student users on average rated both their visits and providers 4.9 out of 5.
- 75 percent of patients who used the scheduled counseling service did not come through the campus counseling center, and 60 percent reported that if it they didn’t have access to TimelyCare, they would not have sought help.
Some students use the platform to supplement their work with an in-person therapist.
Coates said the sooner students reach out for support, the sooner they will start to feel better.
“College is a time of learning more about yourself and how you show up in the world,” said Coates. “We hope students can learn some skills to help them cope so that they can go about doing the things they are here to do: learn, engage with others, push themselves, grow into the spirit of Ut Prosim, and have fun.”
Want to regulate your stress responses in the moment?
Community Resiliency Model is a framework developed by the Trauma Resource Institute for nervous system regulation. Coates said the skill set is “simple but profound,” so students can quickly apply it to see benefits in their everyday life.
Coates said the Community Resiliency Model language “helps students convey how they are really doing with one another without feeling like they are burdening others.”
The Community Resiliency Model explores normal nervous system responses to stress — the fight-or-flight high zone and the freeze-or-fawn low zone. The model then shares accessible skills to help users return themselves or those around them to the more resilient flow zone in between.
To learn more about the Community Resiliency Model (CRM), students can:
- Enroll in the CRM Canvas course
- Watch videos on the CRM Playlist on YouTube
- Keep an eye out for the CRM sensory bicycle around campus
- Contact Cook Counseling Center and ask to join Relax Hacks groups to practice in small groups
- Students who live on campus can also learn more from their Student Leaders, who have had extensive Community Resiliency Model training
Want to move to feel better?
According to a 2020 report from the World Health Organization, improvements to mental health, cognitive health, and sleep are among the many benefits of physical activity for adults. The organization recommends that all adults who are able undertake regular physical activity.
Recreational Sports offers manyt ways for Hokies to get moving. With activities from fitness challenges and group exercise classes to intramural sports and hiking trail recommendations, there is something for everyone.
Want to feel more proactive in your wellness journey?
Hokie Wellness offers educational and empowerment resources to support students’ wellness. Classes and workshops cover topics from mindfulness and financial wellness to opioid overdose emergency response training. Personalized coaching and community-centered outreach opportunities are also available to students.
Through its programming, Hokie Wellness strives to help all Hokies enjoy a healthful and purpose-filled life.
