Are you okay? Mental Health Matters

As we go about the fall semester, we may experience stress or challenges that we have not experienced before. Rising emotional distress is a problem that is faced throughout the semester by students, faculty, staff, and other individuals alike. You, or someone around you, may be facing anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, emotional/physical abuse, alcoholism, an eating-disorder, or any other issue at a given time. Or you may just be feeling slightly overwhelmed from time to time. Whatever the case may be, there are many resources, which are listed near the end of the article, that can help.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 47,173 Americans died by suicide in 2017. Witnessing a suicide can be a traumatic and heartbreaking event for the family members, friends, and community around that person. Although you may be hurting, I urge you not to lose hope when things get hard. People may not understand everything that you are going through, but it is my hope that you reach out to someone so that they can help you live a more joyful and hopeful life. If you notice anyone displaying concerning behavior or distress, please reach out to them or inform someone trusted on campus about the situation. It is better to be safe than sorry.

If you or someone else is encountering an emergency, please seek immediate help at:

UHart Public Safety (emergency line) at 860-768-7777, or 911.

Although receiving mental health treatment has been stigmatized in the past, we are closer than ever to reducing the stigma. There should be no shame in receiving any help. Luckily, the University of Hartford has many great resources that can help you cope.

If you or someone else would like help, or would like to talk to someone, please reach out to any of the following resources:

UHart CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services) 860-768-4482, located at the Gengras Student Union in room 313, from Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

Ministries that are located on the UHart campus, such as Faith Fellowship

Off-campus counselors

The National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 (www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org)

The National Domestic Violence Hotline (www.thehotline.org) -Betterhelp Online Counseling (www.betterhelp.com)

Tell someone about how you are feeling. You may have more luck with one resource than the other. It may take some time. You may even have to meet a few different counselors before you find the right one for you, if you decide to try out counseling. However, it will all be worth it. You may have been feeling like a burden or you may have been feeling hopeless, but you are not a burden, and there is hope for you. It is better to share the experiences of your life and allow someone to be there for you than to isolate yourself.

When you are feeling better, you can be the person that is helping someone else out, if you would like. You are not meant to go through life alone. Remember to take care of yourself, and good luck to everyone on the new semester! You matter.