Mason offers expanded options for emotional support

Colleen Rich — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 15:09:16 +0000

Mason offers expanded options for emotional support Colleen Rich Thu, 03/03/2022 - 10:09

Patriots Thriving Together, an awareness campaign that focuses on improving and sustaining mental health and well-being, is offering the ��ӽ紫ý community new opportunities to access mental health services.

“Navigating the pandemic has overwhelmed most people, and many of us have difficulty managing stress, low energy levels and a lack of motivation,” Robyn Mehlenbeck, director of Mason's Center for Psychological Services, said. “It’s so important to address these issues, normalize emotions and reactions, and give people the skills to help them cope with the evolving pandemic and other stressors.”

The Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being, Student Health Services and the Center for Psychological Services recently joined together to ensure all members of the Mason community—faculty, staff, students and contractors—have immediate free access to brief mental health services.

While CAPS has been available for Mason students, now staff, faculty and contractors can access this free service. An emotional support telephone line 703-215-1898 is open from 8:30 a.m. – 8: 30 p.m., seven days a week. Anyone in the Mason community—faculty, staff, contractors, or students—can speak to trained mental health and first-aid facilitators who will provide specific ways to reduce anxiety and to increase energy.

Those who feel as though they need more support can sign up for the second step: in-person or virtual Brief Therapy Skills. Here individuals are offered up to three free one-hour sessions with trained doctoral students where they can talk through their struggles and learn targeted and active coping skills to tackle their concerns.

If more than the initial three hours are needed, individuals can move on to step three, which includes additional therapy sessions on an income-based sliding scale that is significantly discounted over the going rate in the community. In addition, sliding-scale medication management services are also offered through this program, if needed.

“It’s often difficult for people in the middle of a stressful situation to either recognize that they need help, or to feel like they can take the time to get it,” said Keith Renshaw, Psychology Department chair and professor. “These services offer tips and strategies that people can use to manage their stress and reduce their anxiety, depression, or simply feeling overwhelmed. It’s quick but highly effective, and it can make a real difference in their day-to-day living.”

Those faculty and staff who work with and are relied upon by students are encouraged to consult a resource created by University Life, which helps navigate difficulties students are facing including health concerns, personal losses, isolation, race-based violence, or uncertainty about their future. The information contained here can help faculty and staff recognize students’ concerns and guide them in managing challenges.

Mason is committed to helping support the well-being and mental health of its entire community and encourages anyone in need of assistance to reach out.

For more information, visit the Center for Psychological Services Emotional Support Resources website.

Topics

Faculty and Staff News

Patriots Thriving Together

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Center for the Advancement of Well-Being

Patriots Thriving Together offers new resources for spring 2022

Colleen Rich — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 19:59:50 +0000

Patriots Thriving Together offers new resources for spring 2022 Colleen Rich Thu, 01/20/2022 - 14:59

In September 2021, Mason’s Offices of University Life, the Provost and the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being joined forces and created Patriots Thriving Together, an awareness campaign that focuses on improving and sustaining mental-health and well-being for the Mason community through a wide range of experiences and resources.

The campaign targets everyone connected with Mason: students, faculty and staff, families, and the broader community.

“We're living in a time when we're yearning for greater well-being in our lives and in our communities. Patriots Thriving Together also means that no community member is alone in challenging times, struggles, or in their personal growth connected to well-being,” said Nance Lucas, executive director and chief well-being officer of the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being.

Since the campaign’s kickoff, several events or initiatives have launched such as Mason Chooses Kindness, Mason Kindness Ambassadors, BIPOC Well-Being Month and Gratitude, each followed by a handful of activities allowing engagement and interaction from the Mason community.

Photo by Evan Cantwell

During Spring 2022, Patriots should expect activities around topics such as Intentional Acts of Kindness, Strengths, Financial Well-Being and Importance of Lifelong Learning.

This semester includes both online events and resources and in-person events during Spring into Well-Being Week, April 18-22. Specifically, there is a revamped Acts of Kindness Calendar available for February 2022 tying into the upcoming Intentional Acts of Kindness topic. This calendar features ideas for putting kindness into action every day of the month along with links (in the PDF version) to related articles and research.

For the Strengths topic, Patriots are encouraged to take the CliftonStrengths assessment, which allows for a deeper understanding of one’s strengths and talents. Once the assessment has been taken, various options are available on the Strengths website to engage with this new learning. The Importance of Lifelong Learning can be viewed through the Thriving Together Series page where Patriots can learn about diverse well-being topics.

“The Patriots Thriving Together campaign has helped the Mason community grow stronger, which has been a lifesaver for many during the pandemic,” said Pam Shepherd, communications director for the Office of the Provost. “Each month the topics have brought out the best in people because they’ve reminded us to look out for others and ourselves. I’m looking forward to personal growth the upcoming months will bring.”

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic was the catalyst that pushed the offices to create the campaign. The landing page, thrivingtogether.gmu.edu, contains many resources for the Mason community. Every member of the Mason community can access resources pertaining to mental health and well-being.

“We know it can be hard to find the type of well-being event, resource, or learning experience that fits one’s needs,” said Melissa Schreibstein, director of well-being programs for the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. “The best thing about the Patriots Thriving Together initiative is that it puts all of Mason’s well-being and mental health resources in one, easy-to-find online location.”

Topics

Faculty and Staff News

Center for the Advancement of Well-Being

Patriots Thriving Together

Office of the Provost