If you’re experiencing stress or feeling overwhelmed and lonely, you’re not alone. The level of mental health distress amongst university students is increasing at an alarming rate. According to the 2022 National College Health Assessment results:
- 81.2% of University of Rochester students reported moderate or severe distress levels within the previous 12 months.
- Over 50% of students said stress has either negatively impacted their performance in a class or has delayed progress towards their degree.
- 56.9% of students screened positive for loneliness.
- Only 5.8% of students felt rested 6-7 days within the previous week.
If stress, anxiety, and lack of sleep having a negative impact on your life, be sure to check out our mental well-being programs! We’ll show you stress management and relaxation techniques, teach you healthy sleep strategies, and demonstrate that it’s possible to bounce back from failures and thrive.
Mindful University Project
The Mindful University Project is an interdisciplinary collaboration with a mission to empower our campus community to build a culture of mindful presence and compassion.
The work of the Mindful University Project allows our students to improve their mental well-being, boost academic flourishing, increase resiliency to stress, and reduce levels of anxiety and depression.
Our goal is to create a safe and inclusive space for all students, staff and faculty to learn and engage in mindfulness through:
- introductory mindfulness classes;
- drop-in meditation sittings and yoga classes;
- half-day silent retreats;
- educational workshops and faculty and staff training
Health Promotion Events
PAWS for Stress Relief
Come pet the pups! Paws for Stress Relief brings therapy dogs to campus for students to spend some time with. This monthly program occurs on Mondays from 6–7:15 p.m. on River Campus and Thursdays from 6–7:15 p.m. at Eastman School of Music. The Health Promotion Office also provides educational information, fun activities, and stress-relief giveaways such as lavender sachets or stress balls.
Spring 2024 Dates:
- Mondays at River Campus (Goergen Athletic Center): February 5th, March 4th, and April 1st
- Thursdays at Eastman:February 15th, March 21st, and April 18th
DeStress Fests
The Destress Fest is an opportunity to engage in a variety of fun, stress-relieving activities during finals. Two events, held Wells Brown Oasis at Rush Rhees, are held each semester. Enjoy soothing music, calming tea, and more!
Each Destress Fest is different. Activities may include:
- Board games
- Puzzles
- Craft table
- Stress balls
- Coloring
- Gratitude jars
- Therapy dogs
Flourish Festival
Each Spring, the Health Promotion holds their Flourish Festival, a full-day event for all students! At this day-long event, students are offered with various opportunities to engage in wellness activities from taking a yoga class, engaging in mindfulness meditation practices (such as mindful
eating and walking!), getting a mental health screening, petting some therapy dogs, meeting various wellness-related resources on campus, and more!
Follow our Instagram or sign up for our newsletter to get more information once time draws closer!
Supporting a Student or Peer in Distress
Check out our Mental Health Resource Card for tips on how to recognize and support someone in distress.
Be There Certificate
Are you interested in gaining knowledge on mental health literacy, as well as skills and confidence to safely support peers who may be struggling with their mental health? The UHS Health Promotion Office and the Medallion Program have partnered to offer the Be There Certificate for students. The Certificate counts towards an Interpersonal Competence workshop for the Medallion Program.
The Be There Certificateis Jack.org and the Born This Way Foundation’s digital, self-paced learning experience designed to increase mental health literacy and provide youth with the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to safely support anyone who may be struggling with their mental health. It will provide a deep understanding of Be There’s 5 Golden Rules — a simple but actionable framework teaching people how to recognize when someone might be struggling with their mental health, their role in supporting that person, and how to connect them to the help they need. The Be There Certificate is available in English, French and Spanish, offer
ing universal best practices while diving deeper into the intersections of culture, identity, and social determinants of mental wellness.
The If you complete the Certificate and want Medallion credit, simply email the Medallion Program with your completion certificate and they will send you a Level 2 Workshop Reflection!
