Mental health is something that everyone must deal with at some point in their lives. We all get upset, stressed and anxious from time to time. In using a support system, most people are able to get through tough times on their own. However, some people may need extra support in taking care of themselves and/or their mental health. Talk therapy has proven to be a useful tool for many people going through difficult times in their lives and can even be life-changing. Unfortunately, many people do not end up having the resources to access private therapy services.
Luckily, the University of Connecticut offers many options for mental health support to its student body through Student Health and Wellness (SHaW). Brief individual therapy sessions are offered to current students for any type of mental health concerns. These sessions are free of charge to students and are meant to be a short-term solution for students, but SHaW can help connect you to local providers around the state if you are in need of more services. Many group therapy sessions are also available to students free of charge.
SHaW offers more generic group therapy to both undergraduate and graduate students, and identity-specific groups are also available. The groups are designed for specific populations of students. There is a men’s group, a group for students of color and a group for pregnant or parenting students, among others. SHaW also has introduced more creative avenues of group therapy, such as their “Dungeons and Therapy” group. This group utilizes role-playing games such as “Dungeons and Dragons” to explore your personality and work on any goals you may want to focus on.
For some people, avenues such as medication may be the extra support needed to take control of their mental well-being. SHaW offers consultations for students wanting to explore the option of medication to decide if treatment is right for them. Once they finish the consultation, SHaW can refer students to local providers that can help them start medication.
Starting your mental health journey or even just talking about your feelings can be hard. Luckily, UConn remains committed to providing resources for struggling students. There are many options for beginning services at school, but many students opt to start with therapy. Brief individual therapy is an option. If you need longer-term support, SHaW can refer you to a list of providers throughout the state who can take your insurance.
There are also many group therapy options available that may be able to help you during the semester. These groups are mainly identity-focused, allowing specific populations of students to have focused support. However, there are groups centered around general mental health and wellness, and the medication route is also available to explore if you find that individual or group therapy is not enough to support your mental health.
Everyone finds that they need support from time to time, and there are many resources available at UConn to assist struggling students. If you need support, call SHAW or visit their website for more information. The most important thing is to not be afraid to ask for help.