College life is a huge transitional stage for many young adults. And, with these changes in environment and routine comes a new challenge: monitoring and assessing your mental health. Colorado State wants to help you make a smooth transition from high school to college, and offers a wide array of resources for staying on top of your mental health. Knowing you’ll have these tools available can make the adjustment much more manageable. Here are just five to explore.
#1. CSU student counseling and in-person therapy
The CSU Health Network offers a wide array of therapy options, including individualized counseling, multicultural counseling, drug and alcohol treatment programs, and even intensive post-mental-health hospitalization. If you’re interested in personalized therapy when you get to CSU, you have a deep well of resources to choose from that suits your needs. Whether you’re experiencing a specific situation, or just want to stay on top of your mental health as you adjust to the demands of college life, we’ve got you.
#2. Group workshops
Feel more comfortable in a group setting? The CSU Health Network offers workshops and group therapy designed around skills to help you process your feelings and have meaningful discussions with peers. Workshops include Anger Management, Mindfully Managing Stress, and Exploring Relationships After Trauma. Themed groups tend to center on shared experiences and identities, and range from Transgender and Fluid Support to BIPOC Support to Body Positivity, Depression/Anxiety Support, and Substance Abuse Support (and many more).
#3. Serene spaces on campus to rest and recharge
CSU offers on-campus reflection spaces to pray, medicate, reflect, or relax. There are a variety of rooms on campus, each with different equipment and/or furniture to help you wind down in the way that suits you best. Some of the rooms are designed for multiple people, offering yoga mats/seating that allows your group to meditate or pray together. Other rooms, like the Still Point reflection space, has a smaller capacity limit, but features a napping pod for those who really need to shut out the world for a bit. You can reserve the room that works best for you when you really need to take a breather.
#4. An app with self-guided programming and personalized coaching
If you don’t think you’ll need to or be ready to commit in-person counseling right away, CSU has another handy option. SilverCloud is a free app for CSU students that features multiple therapy options to meet you exactly where you are in your mental health journey. You’ll be able to go at your own pace with a self-guided program or get support from a personalized coach who will review your weekly progress and give personal recommendations and insights.
#5. An app designed to help build meaningful social connections
Nod is another free app that helps students process their feelings and practice fostering solid connections in college. The app centers on loneliness and how it presents in the college setting. It offers tools to empower students to build authentic social connections using skill-building challenges and reflection exercises to put social goals into achievable steps. Its interactive tips and tools are designed to support students across different learning environments, such as, on campus, hybrid, and fully remote.
Abigail is a Master of Public Health student at Colorado State University with a concentration in Global Health and Health Disparities. Her undergraduate degree was in Biology with a minor in Psychology. She has always been passionate about advocating for mental health and reducing the surrounding stigma that comes with it. Originally, she is from North Carolina but relocated for CSU’s Public Health program and the mountains. She enjoys the typical Colorado activities in her free time: hiking, snowboarding, and visiting Horsetooth Reservoir.
