May 8, 2023
Dear University of Oregon students,
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In recognition, we want to acknowledge the stress and anxiety many in our university community experienced during the last few years and may still be experiencing. It is important that we all get the help we need to deal with these challenges. To that end, we want to make sure you are aware of services and resources we have to support you.
The University of Oregon is committed to working together to foster a positive environment for learning, teaching, and research. Supporting the mental health and well-being of our campus community is an important element of this work. The university has several resources available to support mental health awareness:
- Kognito, a virtual mental health training module to learn how to have effective conversations with your peers to support their mental health
- Anonymous mental health screening that assesses common concerns
- May Mental Health Awareness Month events including the Bingo Challenge, Grassroots Garden Service Project, Fresh Check Day, REC Center yoga, and more
In addition, the university offers a number of resources through Counseling Services, medical services, the Office of the Dean of Students, and the Duck Nest that are available to you as a UO student:
- Let’s Talk, a drop-in service that provides easy access to free, informal, and confidential consultation with a Counseling Services staff member
- Group therapy and short-term individual therapy services
- Identity-based specialists to support students from underserved communities
- Case managers to help find mental health support in your area
- Medication management by medical professionals
- Duck Nest Peer Wellness Chit Chats for peer connection and support
- After-hours support and crisis line (541-346-3227) to speak with a mental health professional when Counseling Services is closed
- Online Self-Care Kit and Duck Nest Wellness Resources
- Collegiate Recovery Center for peer support related to substance use issues and recovery support
- Care and Advocacy Program for resources and support in navigating personal crises, mental health concerns, and unexpected family or life events
For ongoing information, follow the Counseling Services, Duck Nest Wellness Center, and HealthyUO Instagram accounts for self-care tips, mental health programming, and wellness resources.
To support your academic success, which can impact your well-being and mental health, please take advantage of Academic Advising, the Tutoring and Academic Engagement Center, the Accessible Education Center, and other student success resources available to you year-round. We would also like to ask you to complete the End-of-Year Well-being Check-in Survey that will be sent out May 8, which is a valuable way to help us understand and support student success. It is your opportunity to give direct feedback on your well-being and how we can better support you.
We encourage you to visit the Counseling Services, University Health Services, and Student One Stop Student Resources websites for more information. Please reach out to these professionals and programs to find support and connect with resources this month and every month.
Sincerely,
Jamie Moffitt
Interim President
Janet Woodruff-Borden
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President
The following message was also sent to faculty, staff and graduate employees:
Dear faculty and staff colleagues,
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In recognition, we want to share information about the services and resources available to University of Oregon students to support their mental health and well-being as well as resources and support available to UO employees.
We encourage you to read the email recently sent to students (see above), so you are better prepared to offer support to a student in need. The following resources are available for employees to learn more about how to support student mental health:
- Kognito, a virtual mental health training module to learn how to have effective conversations with students to support their mental health
- Teaching Engagement Program Student Well-being Toolkit, a range of strategies, premade tools, and draft language to support student well-being in the context of their courses
- Office hours with Counseling Services, consult with a Counseling Services staff member to receive assistance in supporting a student with their mental health concerns
The university also offers services to support the mental health and well-being of its employees. Human Resources has a guide on their website with information about taking care of yourself in the workplace. The university’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider, Canopy, also offers confidential, professional counseling services and other resources to support you with both immediate and long-term mental health and well-being needs. We encourage you to be mindful of your emotional well-being and seek support, as needed.
We would also like to thank the many members of our UO community who work across campus to support our students’ mental health and our faculty members and researchers who are helping us better understand how to take care of our mental health and support one another. All this work is an important part of making sure our students succeed at the University of Oregon and beyond.
Sincerely,
Jamie Moffitt
Interim President
Janet Woodruff-Borden
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President