Assisting students of concern
Biliqis Solademi - Staff Writer
The Office of Student Wellbeing hosted a workshop for college employees to learn more about mental health and wellbeing.
Stacy Brown, the Vice President of Behavioral Health Services at Bridgeway Inc., explained common mental health concerns among college students include anxiety, depression, and panic attacks.
“Taking care of your mind is just as important as taking care of your body,” said Brown. She highlighted signs of depression, anxiety, and stress like exhaustion, losing interest in what you love, and insomnia. She encouraged all to check up on the students and ask questions like “How are you doing,” which can make a big difference in someone’s day.
Her presentation included how to identify when a student is going through something that’s affecting their academics, what questions to ask and what staff can do. She also emphasized having a self-care day and taking breaks.
For students, she said: “Go ask for help, ask people to help you if you're not feeling good. It doesn't have to be extreme, but even if you're feeling depressed, you can say, ‘I'm just not feeling myself.’”
If you’re experiencing an emergency, contact Campus Safety at 309-457-3456 or dial 911. Talk to a counselor at TimelyCare.com, or dial 988 to speak to a representative from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.