The end of the semester is a stressful time for many students. Becoming overwhelmed with project deadlines, presentations and final exams can take a toll on mental and physical health.
To promote students’ overall well-being, WVU faculty and staff are encouraged to share prevention resources and support services leading up to end-of-semester finals.
A variety of resources are available across campus to help students maintain their well-being and to provide support to faculty and staff. From meditation, exercise and proper sleep to counseling, time management and tutoring, faculty and staff can help students find the resources at WVU they need to support their well-being, build resiliency and succeed.
Self-care
The Carruth Center provides self-care tips and online resources for students in addition to counseling, psychological and outreach services.
WELLWVU offers hands-on programs and resources to help students reduce stress. In addition to online information, like a time management plan, sleep hygiene tips and chillPACK daily activities, WELLWVU provides in-person educational programs for academic classes or campus organizations upon request. Students can also learn about the physical and mental health benefits of movement and nutrition and get tips for exercise and mindful eating on the WELLWVU website.
Participation in regular physical activity can reduce stress and anxiety. WVU Campus Recreation maintains a full lineup of programs and services from group fitness to personal training, crafting and virtual classes. The WVU Medicine Wellness Program supports additional classes and programs, and BeWell offers mental health services to students on the Health Sciences Campus. Students enrolled in the College of Law and participating in intercollegiate athletics can access counseling services at convenient satellite locations on campus.
The Emotional Well-being Badge program will also allow for faculty and staff to better understand their role in promoting mental health and well-being on campus.
Crisis and emergency services
Several resources are available for faculty and staff to help identify signs of distress, communicate with students in distress and connect them with appropriate services.
Mental Health 101 Training workshops, developed by experts in the Carruth Center, CARE Team and WELLWVU, will be held in-person and virtually throughout the rest of the semester to help individuals identify and intervene when a fellow Mountaineer is in distress. WVU Medicine’s Healthy Minds University partners with the Carruth Center to supplement and extend student mental health services. The Carruth Center offers Kognito training that helps build awareness, knowledge, skills and confidence when talking about mental health issues, preparing an individual to be a resource when someone is in need.
If there is concern about a student, and it is not an immediate crisis, submit a referral to the CARE Team. If it is an emergency situation or an immediate threat to self or others, call 911. Faculty and staff should be aware of other 24/7 resources that are available. Completing a CARE referral in lieu of emergency services could result in a delayed response. The CARE team is not staffed to provide emergency services.
Student Health
Care providers at Student Health are available to assist with a range of non-emergency health conditions and preventive care. Appointments for vaccinations to prevent illness, diagnostic care and consultations for a variety of concerns, including substance use, can be scheduled by any WVU student. Walk-ins are also encouraged.
Assistance for faculty and staff
If you are a faculty or staff member who would like assistance for yourself, please contact the WVU Faculty and Staff Assistance Program, a free and confidential problem-solving resource, at 304-293-5590.
Faculty and staff can also continue to access recorded self-care workshops online. In 2021, the Office of the Provost partnered with groups across campus to provide a series of workshops focused on mental health and self-care. Session topics include self-compassion, meditation and mindfulness, as well as ways to support students. Recordings of those virtual sessions are available on the WVU Faculty and Leadership Development website.
Additionally, employees can learn more about health and wellness initiatives through Talent and Culture including information about the WVU Wellness Center. WVU Medicine provides wellness and mindfulness classes and programs on the Health Sciences campus.