For college students nationwide, “September” is synonymous with “stress.” It’s the beginning of the year with classes in full swing, burdensome workloads, and social calendars bursting at the seams. The first full month of school can leave you feeling burnt out by the end of it, taking a major toll on your mental health. There’s a reason why September is National Suicide Awareness month – as the pace of life accelerates with the changing of the seasons, it becomes remarkably easy to slip into a downward psychological spiral. This month, we’re asked to be especially cognizant of mental health-related symptoms, both in ourselves and in the people around us. Bucknell has already taken a major initiative to establish this sort of sentiment on campus through the construction of the Graham Building. Housing both the Wrestling and Wellness center, the Graham Building is now also home to the new and improved Counseling & Student Development Center. The center is equipped with an array of much-needed facilities, including 11 counseling rooms and a group therapy space. Plus, its central location in the heart of campus helps to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health services. Contrary to what students may think, mental health resources are accessible to anyone and everyone, and they play an integral role in bettering the overall climate of our campus.
That’s the great thing about Bucknell’s Counseling & Student Development Center: you don’t have to have a medically diagnosed condition in order to reap its benefits. Here at Her Campus, we’re here to break down the different ways in which you can take advantage of this awesome facility during the coming semester.
Mindfulness Menu Mindfulness is a hot and trending topic in our culture, and the CSDC has done such a great job of bringing the trend to Bucknell. The Mindfulness menu is an initiative that encourages students to incorporate mindfulness into their daily lives through a program of registered events. Some of these events include Coloring Hours on Thursdays, Therapy Dogs in the library, and even guided yoga and meditation classes. Click here for a list of the full programming for the fall semester: http://www.bucknell.edu/Documents/PsychologicalServices/MindfulnessMenu.pdf Drop In Workshops “Drop In” workshops don’t require any registration – you can just go whenever you please. The program offers workshops from noon to 1 p.m. in 102 Rooke Chem on both Tuesdays and Thursdays. At these workshops, you’ll learn about the different types of social and psychological issues surrounding our daily lives, as well as the ways in which you can deal with them on your own. The topics range from “Emotion Mastery: 101” to “Mood-and-Food: The Stress-Appetite Connection.” For a more complete list, check out the CSDC’s full workshop programming for the fall semester: http://www.bucknell.edu/CSDC-Workshops Counseling Services If you’re feeling particularly overwhelmed or discouraged, a one-on-one conversation with a certified counselor might be all it takes to set you back on the right track. Here are some things to know about counseling services:
- Walk-in hours are 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays (use the entrance that faces 7th Street)
- To set up an appointment during the 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. hours, call 570-577-1604
- All services are free and strictly confidential
Students use counseling services to talk about whatever they’re dealing with: roommate conflicts, eating disorders, family concerns, etc. Additionally, the CSCD offers group counseling sessions, which are groups of 5-10 students that meet weekly to discuss self-improvement. Each group revolves around a different theme, from “Be Your Best You” to “Interpersonal Excellence,” and can be a great way to discuss your feelings with others while also getting to know yourself a little bit better.
There are so many ways to get involved with the CSCD, and as college students, we are so lucky to have such a wide range of resources at our disposal. Life as a Bucknell student can very easily become stressful, so always remember that no matter what you’re dealing with – no matter how trivial you may think your issue will seem to others – there is always someone on campus who wants to, and will, help you out. (For more information on any of the aforementioned topics, check out the Counseling & Student Development’s official Bucknell website: http://www.bucknell.edu/Co