Monthly Mental Health Features for International Student Newsletter
AUGUST
Adjusting to new classes and life on campus can be challenging, and we want to make sure you have the tools to take care of your mental health. There are several on-demand mental health resources available across campus and through Student Life’s Counseling and Consultation Service. Whether you just need to talk to someone or you want to learn new skills and strategies for improving your mental health, there are resources for you that you can access daily. Visit ccs.osu.edu to explore more resources for improving your mental health.
SEPTEMBER
Adjusting to a new culture and environment is a normal process and can generate a wide variety of reactions and feelings. While you’re navigating this time of transition, consider signing up for Wellness Coaching through the Student Life’s Student Wellness Center.
Wellness Coaching is a free service to support you and your personal development, focusing on your strengths and using the Nine Dimensions of Wellness model as a framework for generating goals that are meaningful for you.
OCTOBER
During the month of October, Student Life’s Counseling and Consultation Service hosts their annual RECESS event. The event brings together student organizations and campus partners to showcase the benefits of mindful play.
Play can create a positive state of mind and pleasant emotions, which can foster great things like creativity, innovation, mental flexibility, empathy, social connections, a sense of belonging, stress relief and resilience. Take time this month and explore different ways to play. It’s still ok to have fun!
NOVEMBER
As it gets colder and the days get shorter, you might be spending a lot more time inside. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find way to keep moving! Physical activity has been proven to impact your mental health by improving sleep, reducing stress and anxiety and creating a sense of belonging. Participating in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity over longer durations (weeks or months) reduces symptoms of anxiety in adults.
Student Life’s Recreational Sports offers a variety of ways for you to keep moving, even from the comfort of your home. Try a virtual group fitness class or explore digital fitness resources that can help you stay active.
DECEMBER
Even though the semester coming to a close, there are still resources available to help you address your mental health. If you’re away from campus over winter break, or just looking for a mental health resource that fits into your busy schedule, SilverCloud is an online, self-guided, interactive mental health resource available 24 hours a day, wherever you are.
Sign up for a free SilverCloud account to learn strategies to manage stress and anxiety, strengthen natural resilience and better understand how thoughts, feelings and behaviors work together. Learn more at go.osu.edu/SilverCloud.
JANUARY
As we begin a new year and a new semester, the campus is buzzing with energy as more students return. With classes starting there can also be challenges with adjustment to new responsibilities and routines. Learning more about strategies you can use in your day-to-day life can be a great way to address these challenges and improve your mental health.
Student Life’s Counseling and Consultation Service offers drop-in workshops that focus on topics like food strategies to improve focus, anxiety and depression or exercise and sleep strategies for improving mental health. Stop by for an upcoming workshop, no registration necessary!
FEBRUARY
The media we consume and the social media accounts we follow can all have a major impact on our mental health and the way we view our bodies. In February, Student Life’s Student Wellness Center hosts Love Your Body Week, a university-wide collaboration to promote body acceptance and positivity at Ohio State. The week of events is devoted to educating, celebrating and creating a sustainable and supportive campus environment for all body types and experiences.
MARCH
Connection, belonging and togetherness are vital for positive mental health. When we feel lonely or isolated it sends a message internally that we’re not okay. Typically, the feeling of loneliness should act as a guidepost prompting us to reach out and connect with others.
How you prefer to connect to others can vary from person to person. You might be interested in exploring new ways to connect with and support other students or maybe you want to explore ways to get involved on campus. And if you’re not sure where to start, talking to someone about how you’re feeling can be a great first step. You can sign up for a Let’s Talk consultation with Student Life’s Counseling and Consultation Service Monday through Friday for one-on-one support.
APRIL
Building and maintaining healthy relationships with romantic partners, friends and other loved ones is an important part of protecting your own health and well-being. Learn how to practice healthy relationships and prevent sexual violence through Relationship Education and Violence Prevention (REVP). These Student Life Student Wellness Center programs focus on both knowledge and skills in order to give you the tools you need to make informed decisions about such topics as consent, intervention, healthy relationships and sex positivity.
MAY
As the summer nears, many students are anticipating positive experiences such as a break from classes, or fewer classes, vacation, an internship, etc. While these can overall be positive for most students, some students can experience negative emotions during this transitional time. This could be caused by the changes to relationships or your sleep and social schedules as you move away from campus.
Whether you’re staying on campus through the summer, returning home or settling into your post-graduation life, there are resources you can access to improve your mental health and well-being as you adjust to this new phase. Visit the Student Life’s Counseling and Consultation Service’s website to explore resources that can be accessed virtual, from wherever you are!