Check out our display on mental health and self-care online or in the library!
The challenges many of us face as we begin the third week of classes at WSUV are large and, frankly, they can feel overwhelming on the best of days. It can be hard to take stock in how we are feeling, what we are needing, and how our intersecting identities can create further impacts to the general experiences we are all facing.
As students, you are already faced with having to navigate remote learning amidst – something many of you were not considering a year ago and certainly none of you were considering doing so amidst a pandemic. But being a student is not your only identity and is not reflective of your life experiences. Some of you are parents trying to navigate child care, some of you are working multiple jobs or have been out of work, and some of you are communally grieving as we say the names of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Jacob Blake, and so many others.
Each of these experiences play heavily into our mental health and wellbeing and can drastically impact the ways we are able care for ourselves – but it is still important that we do so in the ways we are capable. Whether it be through finding like-experience in storytelling, reading tips and completing workbooks, or just understanding about how experiences can impact us so we can better self-reflect. To help with some of these journeys, the WSUV Library has compiled resources in our collection (including several new titles) that can provide some of explorations mentioned above.
You are not just a student, you are whole beings, and we at the library intend to support you in the ways we can. We have this curated display available both in-person and online and all materials are able to be checked out (physical materials can even be requested and sent directly to your home if needed).
We encourage you to check out these materials, explore them, and begin (or continue) to care for your mental health and wellbeing. That being said, we are not mental health professionals. Within the online display we have provided information that can help you find professionals in the Vancouver/Portland area including the Counseling Services at WSUV. Some of the resources Counseling Services are offering this semester include virtual drop-in consultation service and group sessions on stress management.
We hope you take the time to explore this display and take time to care for yourself. We are always here to help so feel free to contact us with any questions.
If you are experiencing a psychological emergency, including thoughts of harming yourself or someone else, or a situational crisis or emergency, please do one of the following: call 911, call the Clark County Crisis Line at 360-696-9560. (TTY: 866-835-2755), visit the nearest emergency room. These resources are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.