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April 17, 2018 — Each spring during Stress Less Week, we focus a great deal on the most present stressors in students’ lives: final exams. This means we also focus on the most immediate methods for dialing back that stress such as taking a walk or yoga class, listening to a comedy podcast, or moderating caffeine intake so that […]

April 12, 2018 — It’s 75 degrees out and I’m on a long hike through the beautiful rolling hills of my hometown. My favorite place. My favorite activity. I hike at a quick pace when I’m alone, and love to feel my calves burn in that satisfying, muscle-working way. It’s warm and my heart is beating fast. Despite the […]

April 11, 2018 — Congratulations on almost reaching the end of the academic year! Some of you may be returning to campus in the fall or entering the job market, others may be considering applying to graduate school or another program. For those of you who are concerned about having a “messy” transcript, I hope my essay below helps. […]

March 30, 2018 — I want to make space for revolutions. I especially want to make space for those revolutions that happen within and the revolutions that challenge patriarchs by creating space for individuals to embrace their beautiful bodies and identities. Individuals along the LGBTQ spectrum are 33% more likely to experience mental health symptoms as opposed to their […]

March 28, 2018 — Sensitive Topic: This post focuses on basic intervention skills to use when helping someone considering suicide.  Dear Resident Assistant, If you live a life similar to mine in college, then helping someone who is having suicidal thoughts may become part of your story, as it did mine. In my case, I was a first-year resident assistant […]

March 8, 2018 — Stigma. What is it and why is it so important that we work together to get rid of it? Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault, Ph.D., offers this definition of stigma, “Stigma is a perceived negative attribute that causes someone to devalue or think less of the whole person.” When referring to mental health, stigma prevents people from reaching […]

March 1, 2018 — Content Warning: This piece contains mentions of self-harm. Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), otherwise known as self-harm, is not a mental illness in itself, but a sign of a lack of adequate coping skills. It involves behaviors that intentionally harm oneself and is a sign of mental distress. Here are some common myths and misconceptions about self-harm, […]

February 22, 2018 — I was immune to Medical Student Syndrome. Even after completing all of my preclinical coursework and core clinical rotations, not once did I go running to Student Health thinking a headache was a brain tumor or that a peculiar bruise was most certainly a curious anemia. In fact, my time in medical school had nearly […]

February 21, 2018 — I was seven when I had my first panic attack. It was a Thursday night; I had just gotten home from a Girl Scouts meeting. I was in the living room with my parents. My dad was sitting in his recliner watching TV, and my Mom and I were at the bar, studying my spelling […]

February 14, 2018 —   Active Minds at ESU has done Have a Heart for Mental Health for more than three years now and prior customers look forward to these cookies every year during Valentines Day. The cookies sold are small cookies (1 pound) for $5 and large cookies (2 pounds) for $10. These cookies are a great gift […]