Eight Tips for Managing Mental Health in the Time of Coronavirus
51蹤獲Counseling Center Director Christopher Bailey shares advice for wellbeing and handling some of the most common challenges arising for students during this time
How to stay informed without becoming too absorbed in the news? How to handle conflict during quarantine? How to spend newfound free time?
This new phase of social distancing and remote learning presents many questions when it comes to caring for ones mental health.
The 51蹤獲Counseling Center is here to help.
The center is temporarily offering telemental health services, via video and phone sessions, for all who are eligible. While eligibility varies depending on students home states, the Counseling Center staff will provide referral options as needed. And the center website is updated daily with resources and tips.
Counseling Center Director and Psychologist Christopher Bailey shares tips for dealing with some of the most common challenges right now:
1. Limit Media Consumption
Becoming absorbed in statistics and news about the coronavirus can have negative impacts on mood.
The numbers arent making people feel good. Theyre making people feel worse, Bailey says. Try to establish some limits for yourself and maybe take a day off from reading the news.
Bailey recommends replacing some of the negative news with more uplifting content.
Were promoting things on and our website, like virtual museum tours, a kitten cam, and an aquarium cam, Bailey says. Theyre all free. Consuming some of that stuff can make a dent in balancing out the negative news.
2. Maintain or Establish a Routine
Go back to your Roger Williams routines, Bailey said. Get up for your classes as you normally would. Sleep as you normally would. Eat as you normally would. Exercise as you normally would. Realistically, its probably not going to be exactly the same, but the more you can make it like your behaviors on campus, the better, especially if those behaviors were more on the healthy side.
3. Communicate with Those who Share Your Space
Have conversations with family members or housemates about who will be using which spaces. Let them know where you will be doing your work and when you will need quiet time, to try to head off any scheduling conflicts that may arise.
4. Get Social Support
Depending on your family situation, you may lean on those within your house or find support elsewhere. Along with therapists, Bailey recommends you stay in contact with friends from Roger, professors, and people in your community that you can engage with virtually.
5. Find or Rediscover Hobbies
Whether its grabbing your old guitar from the closet, or picking up your paintbrush, hobbies can give you a break from your phone or computer, and re-energize you.
Hobbies and artistic pursuits are really crucial in this situation, because were all indoors, Bailey says What kinds of things did you used to do when you were in high school that maybe youve lost a little bit? Can you return to some of those things that you really enjoyed, but just got caught up in other things? Blow the dust off and try it out again. It might really rejuvenate you.
6. Get a Good Nights Sleep
Sleep is hard for many during this time. Bailey recommends having a wind-down period before sleep. This means you stop doing homework, watching TV, or using your phone or computer a little while before bed.
In that period, youre doing some light activity, nothing really engaging, something that doesnt intellectually or emotionally stimulate you to a high degree he says.
You may do a crossword puzzle, read a light book, or do a relaxing craft project. This will help your brain prepare for sleep.
7. Take Advantage of Resources
Many wonderful resources can be found on the Counseling Centers website. They are also offering Zoom workshops twice a week, where they cover themes such as Anxiety, Depression, and Sleep. Once a week, they help facilitate a Wednesday Wellness Chat, alongside Health Services and Health Education, covering topics like nutrition, exercise, healthy practices, and mental health.
8. See a Therapist if Needed
If youre having trouble finding a routine that works for you, or need additional support, you may seek individual counseling.
That might be us, or that might be someone near your house, Bailey says.
He recommends the websites and to find a therapist that suits your needs.