Celebrating Mental Health Month

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A cornerstone to “being well” is understanding what mental health means for each of us. To help students better understand the wide range of mental health concerns that exist, the University Counseling Center’s (UCC) Student Advisory Board (SAB) is hosting the third annual May Mental Health Month at UO.

This year’s mental health awareness month campaign is about change—change for the better. Whether that’s a change in strengthening our mental health, increasing our support systems, or bolstering our coping strategies, we’d like to make significant strides towards building a community of care at UO. Beyond Mental Health Awareness Month, we look forward to engaging, collaborating, and working alongside all of you in our efforts.

The following are a few events that the SAB will be co-sponsoring this month:

UO Mental Health Summit: A day-long line-up of presentations and panel discussions for UO undergraduate and graduate students and faculty and staff in conjunction with National Mental Health Month. The Summit will focus on college mental health resources, research, services, and advocacy. These topics, among others, will be covered:

    • Suicide Prevention
    • LatinX college student mental health
    • Queer Students of Color: Identity and Mental Health
    • Black/African Student Specialists
    • Supporting Trans and Gender Diverse Students
    • Substance Abuse Recovery
    • Men’s Mental Health
    • Wellness and self-care resources for students

Sunday, May 5, 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in the EMU Crater Lake and other rooms.

Mental Health 101: A workshop for everyone to come learn about mental health challenges and how they can present in different people. This session is not meant to diagnose, but instead to raise awareness of the variety of mental health concerns common on college campuses and how they may manifest differently in different individuals. We will also discuss campus and community resources. This event is free and students can just drop in. Tuesday May 7, 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. in the Duck Nest (EMU 041).

We also put together a self-care calendar this year! Every day, there will be a new tip posted on our social media. Let’s all try to take care of ourselves in this month . . . and beyond! Here are five ways to take care of yourself this May:

  • Listen to your favorite songs as you walk to class
  • Visit the Museum of Natural and Cultural History: Admission is free on the first Friday of May! Friday, May 3, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
  • Attend ISA International Night: Saturday May 4th, 6:00 p.m. in the EMU Ballroom.
  • Go to LGBTea Time: Thursday May 9, 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. in the LGBTQA3 Alliance Office (EMU 022)
  • Take a relaxing walk in the park

Follow along on Instagram @uobewell or like the UO Counseling Center on Facebook!

Sam Linder, UO Student
Univ. Counseling Center Student Advisory Board