As many programs move into their competition seasons, extracurriculars become busier as leaders try to squeeze in meetings, and classes become harder in the second semester, it is easy to become so involved in our lives that we forget to leave enough time to care for our own well-being. Students often pour so much of themselves into their commitments that they forget the most important one that they have—themselves. It’s normal that students feel overwhelmed, stressed, and not themselves during such a busy time, and thus, struggle mentally or simply lose motivation. For this reason, it’s important for the students at Bellarmine to be aware of all of the resources available to them if they want to reach out.
The counseling department is not only helpful for switching classes, but is a great resource for mental health help. Some of our counselors, such as Rachel Ford and Tawanna Wilson, have held jobs as therapists outside of Bellarmine, and are great people to reach out to if you find yourself needing advice or to vent about what stressed you. If speaking to a counselor about your personal life is uncomfortable, the counseling department is also involved in a program called Care Solis, which is connected to the Archdiocese of Seattle. Through Care Solis, students can inform their counselor what they are looking for in a therapist, and be connected to one in their community. Care Solis is a great program for students that are interested in getting therapy, but don’t know where to seek it.
Additionally, students are welcome to talk to any Suicide Forefront trainers at Bellarmine who, with the counseling department, work to educate students about risk factors for suicide. If you ever feel concerned about a friend or peer, or need help yourself, but feel uncomfortable going straight to a counselor, you can talk to a Forefront leader. They can help you in the ways they know how, and collaborate with a counselor or staff member you trust to get that individual help. Lastly, the counseling department ran a grief focus group on campus with students and faculty that had been affected by the loss of a loved one. Although the counseling department is still trying to work out logistical issues, they are working hard to make another focus group similar to that one happen again for more specialized aid to those that are interested.
Lastly, Bellarmine also offers mental health support through service animals. You may have seen Titan, who is a service dog trained in mental health support, during finals week in the campus center. Bella Pingrey, a senior who did her Capstone project relating animal studies to mental health, worked and conducted studies with Titan. She noted that in her trials, there was a visible change in the intensity and anxiety levels in rooms where there were service dogs available, and expresses that she thinks it would be valuable to have more access to service dogs available on campus. Titan’s owner, Nicole Rolfness, concurs.
Although reaching out for support is difficult for a cornucopia of reasons, the Bellarmine staff, counseling department, and your peers are here to support you. So, while life gets busy with extracurriculars getting busier and AP exams creeping by, remember to prioritize your own health and be there to support your friends and family when they may need it.
