How to Take Care of Your Mental Wellbeing While in College

In many ways, college is the most exciting and transformative time of your life. But it’s also not a big secret that the “perfect” student life we see in TV shows is not reality. College comes with stress. Stress is a given part of our lives, and whether it is an extra assignment, gloomy roommate, or homesickness, you have got to let yourself process those feelings.

As a second-year student at PLU, I have gone through many growth patches which were both thrilling and challenging. What I am most thankful for is having resources and community at PLU that helped me through those times.

A good place to start when thinking about your support network at PLU is your Lute Group when you are a first-year student and your Resident Assistant (RA). They are a community you have specifically for figuring out ‘college things’. Students in your Lute Group will probably have similar experiences with transitioning to college, and your RA will have answers to those questions.

It’s definitely worth downloading the TimelyCare App once you are on campus. With TimelyCare, you can access resources on multiple wellbeing and self-care topics, schedule online appointments with mental health providers or nurse practitioners. The app has a peer support community, and it’s just very convenient to do all those things from your phone.

PLU Counseling Services is my favorite. You can do in-person appointments on campus with licensed psychologists or mental health counselors where you can work on your personal growth, self-knowledge, or dig into more complex problems. All PLU, Counseling Services are free and unlimited for enrolled students.

Check out this PLU resources page for more information on mental health!