Mental health basics
- Stress vs. something moreStress fades when the problem is handled. Two weeks or more of low mood or lost interest is worth a professional's look.
- Finding a therapist you can affordStart with your insurer's list, a campus counseling center or a free Employee Assistance Program, then ask about sliding scales.
- Using campus counselingMost colleges have a counseling center, often free or covered by fees and confidential. You don't need a crisis to book a first appointment.
- 988: when and how to reach outCall or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org, any time, for yourself or someone you're worried about.
- Calming anxiety in the momentSlow your breathing: in through the nose, out longer than in. It can lower the racing heart that anxiety triggers. In Mind