We are Here for You
Current events and racial/social injustices can have an impact on our mental wellbeing. We welcome conversations in our individual counseling and groups about what is happening in our communities and around the world.
Election Support
Stress Management During Election Week
In times of uncertainty, and high stress, pausing in your day to work on self-care, create a plan, cultivate hope, and identify support is important.
- Get outside, spending just 30 minutes outside in nature can greatly reduce stress and improve mood
- Take a break from the news: set a daily time limit on your news consumption
- Spend time with supportive people in your life
- Practice mindfulness:
Feeling like the stress is too much?
- Attend a “Let’s Talk” session. Get one-on-one informal support.
- Join an Affinity Group: Get connected with other students who share your identities.
Make a Plan for Election Day
Election day can be difficult. Having a plan could make it easier.
Questions to ask before election day:
- Location: Where do I want to be so that I can feel safe and supported?
- People: Who do I want to be with? Do I want to be alone?
- Information: Do I want updates? How do I want to receive election updates?
- Self Care: What would make me feel better if I have strong emotions? Does it require planning ahead?
Critical Hope
Critical hope is a way for us to avoid the pitfalls of despair or empty optimism while working towards a better and more just future.
Critical hope is:
- Acknowledging the existence of inequality and injustice
- Believing that a better world is possible
- Working to find your own role in bringing that world into being
Critical hope is built by:
- Finding ways to express love and passion when we are afraid
- Directing our anger towards action rather than letting injustice lead us to indifference
- Finding a community to reaffirm that we are not alone
- Permitting ourselves to take a break from struggle to find new ways to fight
Navigating Current Events
World events often bring intense emotions to our University community. Naming the emotions you are experiencing can support your body through them. Where do you notice fear, worry, rage, joy, relief?
TIPP is a set of skills that can help reduce intense emotions and stress:
T- Temperature- Cold water helps cool down the temperature in our body, which helps calm us during intense emotions.
I- Intense Exercise- Exercising helps release the intense stress feelings so that your body feels calmer afterwards.
P-Paced Breathing- Taking deep and long breaths that slow down your breathing can help decrease your heart rate and stop the intense emotions from escalating.
P-Progressive Muscle Relaxation- Taking a moment to go through each part of your body to relax the muscles.
Learn more about TIPP Skills with this video produced by DBT-RU: DBT Skills from Experts
During world events, surround yourself with people who share similar values to feel less alone. Connecting with loved ones during high stress is important for feeling less isolated and allows you to co-regulate.
Find time to connect:
- Call/text/video call with your support system
- Reaching out to groups on campus
- Attend a campus/off-campus events/movements with a friend
Maintain Routines:
- Find time to take care of your basic needs: eating, sleeping, hydrating and moving your body
- Find intentional ways to do the things that are important to you
Engage with the Earth:
- If you are able go outside: go to a lake, waterfall or pond, watch the sunrise/sunset
- Engaging with the Earth inside: make tea, use essential oils, take care of your plants, make a plant-based dinner
There are resources on campus that can help you navigate the intense emotions that come with world events.
On-Campus Resources
- For urgent/crisis needs after hours, please call the 24/7 Crisis Line at 612-301-4673
- Let’s Talk: a free, confidential, no appointment necessary counseling service provided by SCS.
- Boynton Mental Health Crisis Clinic: Same day urgent/crisis counseling services are available for students who are experiencing emergent mental health concerns.
- BIPOC Mental Health Collective
SCS Resources
Let’s Talk
Let's Talk provides informal virtual drop-in consultations for U of M students throughout the academic year. Counselors can listen to specific problems, provide support, help explore solutions, and give information about other resources. No appointment is necessary.
Note: Let's Talk is not a substitute for formal counseling and does not constitute mental health treatment.
Affinity Groups
Student Counseling Services (SCS) offers a range of educational workshops and affinity groups to connect and create community, and therapy groups for increased support and moving toward healing or change around specific challenges. Students can learn new skills and strategies, connect, and share difficulties and experiences in a safe, supportive online environment. Affinity groups are presented in collaboration with campus partners.