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Students studying (Photo by Angela Ryan)

With midterm exams right around the corner and World Mental Health Day on Thursday, Oct. 10, SU News put together a guide for students to help manage their mental health all year long, but especially during the midterm stress.

As you study and prepare for midterms, here are some quick tips to keep in mind to focus on your mental health:

• Create a manageable study plan: Break your study sessions into manageable time blocks, prioritize your tasks and focus on one subject at a time.
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  Sound Bathing Immersive Experience at the Barnes Center at The Arch (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

  Take breaks: Short, frequent breaks can help you stay focused and reduce stress. Try stretching, going for a walk or doing something you enjoy.

• Be active: Physical activity can give a boost to your energy and mood. Even a short walk or a quick workout can make a big difference.
• Eat healthy: Nutritious food fuels your brain and body. Try to eat balanced meals and drink plenty of water.
• Prioritize sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Quality sleep is important for memory, concentration and overall mental health.
• Connect with others: Talking to friends or family can provide emotional support.
• Practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques: Deep breathing, meditation or yoga can help reduce anxiety and improve focus.
• Use resources at Barnes Center at The Arch: In addition to being a great place to get a workout in, you can also find counseling services, support groups and more which are outlined below.

Resources at the Barnes Center at The Arch

“The Barnes Center is such a rich resource for health and wellness, and we know from our students that mental wellness is most effective when approached from a holistic perspective that focuses on the connection between the mind and body,” says Carrie Brown, counseling director at the .

Mental health is one of the focus areas at the Barnes Center at The Arch. There are numerous resources available to provide support to students while they are away from home and feeling challenges with their mental health.

“Barnes Center Counseling offers therapeutic support through individual and group therapy offerings as well as crisis and emergency support,” says Brown. “We have multiple groups that teach skills and techniques to help manage anxiety and emotional regulation. We also work very closely with our partners in Barnes Center Recreation and Health Promotion to connect students with other health and wellness resources.”

Students can also benefit from creating structure and routine and using the resources highlighted below, as part of a personalized self-care plan.

Barnes Center at The Arch (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Clinical Support Services

Counseling

: Provides an opportunity to talk confidentially with an objective, caring professional about concerns and gain insights for a better understanding of one’s difficulties. These insights are then used to create a plan of action to carry out in one’s daily living.

: Focuses on developing insight, changing behavior and improving relationship skills. In the group setting, students struggling with similar concerns can share feedback with each other and learn new ways of coping.

: Counseling offers support with off-campus mental health referrals. Off-campus referrals may be provided to students who request a referral, present with an issue best suited for specialized treatment, long-term care or in cases when a student’s schedule is not compatible with our business hours or therapist availability.

Psychiatry services are available on a referral basis from the Barnes Center at The Arch �����Ի��� teams. Services are provided jointly between the Barnes Center at The Arch psychiatric provider and the student’s home psychiatric provider. In order to see a psychiatric provider, a student will need to .

Health and Wellness at the Barnes Center at The Arch (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Mental Health Activities

In addition to the support services available on campus, the Barnes Center offers various activities to engage in to support mental health, including the following:

With several locations across campus, the Crowley Family MindSpa offers a welcoming, accessible and private space for students to practice and prioritize self-care by providing access to a variety of mindfulness and self-care activities, tools and resources.

Mindfulness and Meditation

: Through science-backed meditation and mindfulness tools, Headspace helps you create life-changing habits to support your mental health and find a happier, healthier you.

: This program teaches the art of paying attention on purpose to the present moment with open and nonjudgmental awareness.

The Barnes Center at The Arch, in partnership with community organizations, offers pet therapy opportunities through the Deborah A. Barnes Pet Therapy Program. Visit the Walters Pet Therapy Room to de-stress and enjoy a pet’s company for free.

Students interact with a therapy dog during a pet therapy session at the Barnes Center at The Arch. (Photo by Marilyn Hesler)

���ϲ����� students experiencing a mental health crisis, seeking support for  or needing urgent medical consultation can receive free confidential services 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 315.443.8000.