How BW is Helping Students Manage Mental Health
As students transition from on-campus life to remote instruction, the current events can take a toll on a student’s mental health.
According to Google Trends, the term “loneliness” is the most frequently searched term. While social distancing and cancelation of events is necessary to flatten the curve and reduce the mass spread of COVID-19, it has increased the feeling of loneliness.
During these times of great uncertainty, Baldwin Wallace has remained consistent in their efforts to help students deal with difficult times, offering industry-approved telehealth counseling appointments during the remainder of the Spring semester.
Additionally, Therapy Assistance Online (TAO) – an interactive application that consists of videos, interactive exercises, a mindfulness library, breathing exercises, and progress measures – is still available for student use.
Dr. Sherry Benton, the founder of TAO and psychologist, told The Exponent that mental health is just as important as physical health.
“For me, it’s kinda like physical health, you have to pay attention,” Dr. Benton told The Exponent. “You pay attention to your diet, to working out, to how you take care of your body, and that’s normal. [People] feel like a slacker if [they’re] not thinking about [their] diet or doing some kind of exercise.”
Besides BW’s efforts, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following to maintain healthy mental health:
- Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media.Constantly hearing about the pandemic can be upsetting.
- Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or
- Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals,exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol.
- Make time to unwind – Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
- Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
To schedule a virtual appointment, call: (440) 826-2180.
Counseling Service’s current hours of operation are Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
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