With midterms upon us and finals quickly approaching, it is easy for students to become overwhelmed with responsibilities, and this can unfortunately cause their mental and physical health to suffer. To combat the stress and sleepless nights that come with exam season, University of North Alabama students are encouraged to take advantage of the campus’s many resources.
Mental Health Resources:
UNA Student Counseling Services offers a variety of ways for students to get their stress, anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns under control.
For students who are concerned about their behaviors or mental health, SCS offers online anonymous screenings, which allow students to input the problems they are experiencing and get recommendations for what their next steps should be. From there, students can use the mental health resources available on the website, or they can schedule an appointment with an SCS counselor.
SCS also offers group counseling and workshops for those who would like to meet with others to work on common mental health concerns. Most groups meet weekly, with themes including stress and anxiety, relationships and self-esteem, among others.
If students need a break during their busy days, the Zen Den is another resource that they can take advantage of. The room provides a safe, comfortable space to decompress when students are stressed, so students are encouraged to stop by or book the space if they are interested. SCS also offers a mobile Zen Den, which allows student organizations to rent the materials necessary to create a safe environment for their members to de-stress.
For students who are not interested in SCS mental health resources and wish to get help elsewhere, SCS has a list of providers in the area to help students find the help they need.
All SCS resources are available on una.edu under the “Quick Links” tab, where students can then select “Counseling Services,” which sits under “Safety and Wellness.”
Physical Health Resources:
When students are feeling under the weather, UNA Health Services can help them start to feel better so they can get back to class and other activities sooner. Especially with cold and flu season beginning, Health Services urges students to visit them when they feel sick.
Health Services offers free appointments to students, which can be scheduled on their website, and most days they are able to accept walk-ins. Their providers are able to test students for flu, strep throat, Covid-19 and Mono. They also have a new PCR Covid-19 test, which is said to be more accurate than other tests, especially within the first 24 hours of being symptomatic.
If students test positive for any illnesses, Health Services contains a small dispensary, where students can access common medications, typically for only $5 to $10.
Health Services also offers immunizations through clinics held throughout the semester, many of them being free or low-cost.
Like SCS, Health Services is able to connect students with other providers if they choose to go somewhere else or seek medical care that Health Services cannot perform. Their primary goal is to help students in any way that they can.
“If you do happen to find yourself sick, please give us a call, because we love for students to come down,” said Sheena Burgreen, executive director of Health Services. “We’ll get you treated and hopefully back in class. We’re always here for when they need us.”
Students can access Health Services resources online, also under the “Quick Links” tab, by selecting “Health Services.”
General Well-Being Tips:
Burgreen recommends finding healthy, nutritious food options, both on-campus and off, to avoid eating too many foods that are not rich in vitamins and nutrients. Proper nutrition, along with drinking plenty of water and getting enough sleep, can help to fight off any sicknesses that one might come in contact with, and it can also help students to avoid getting too stressed during their exams.
For students, the most important step is reaching out when they do not feel good, as there are many campus resources in place to keep students feeling their best while they earn their degrees. Campus resources are there for students to utilize, and they are happy to help anyone who needs it.
“Our goal is to keep students safe, happy and healthy,” Burgreen said. “We want to get them back in class so that they can do great for the semester and finish strong.”
Students interested in promoting overall health and wellness are encouraged to join the Healthy Lion Council by reaching out to Health Services.
