Mental health resources for students

The CU Denver Student and Community Counseling Center can be reached in person and online.
Photo: Taelar Pollmann · The Sentry

counseling resources on campus and beyond

The college transition can be admittedly daunting. Even for those who are eager and excited, it presents a fresh set of challenges, academic stress, the pressure of getting out and making friends, or the overwhelming financial responsibilities stacking up, there are plenty of challenges that meet the chapter in life clichéd to be the freest time of ones life. Still, that doesn’t mean it’s not exciting. It’s a singularly brilliant time to dig into learning about the self—an assignment that is just as important as any other homework. And thankfully, CU Denver offers incredible resources of counseling for just that.
Therapy does not imply illness; it’s an important stigma to dispel. The American Psychological Association lists a number of other struggles like “relationship troubles, job loss, the death of a loved one, stress, substance abuse or other issues. And these problems can often become debilitating.” Instead, therapy is a tool for everyone—in dark places and light, and CU Denver’s Counseling Center is here for every fade between the two. Located on the 4th floor of Tivoli Student Union building, the center is staffed with professional psychologists, psychotherapists as well as graduate practicum students. The center also serves as a center for training with graduate students within the School of Education and Human Development who are shadowed by the center’s professional psychologists. As per the center’s website, their mission statement is to “provide systemic, strength-based, culturally responsive mental health services focused on relationship, support, growth and solution.” There’s no reason not to take advantage of the resource; required student fees cover the maximum number of 12 sessions per academic year.
Another recent resource is CU Denver’s YOU program and app. Broken into three main tiers—Succeed, Thrive, and Matter—the program offers video and article content on just about everything surrounding wellness, from fitness and nutrition, to mindfulness, balance, and social resilience. Upon logging in with a student ID, the app introduces users to a three-step process of getting started. Step 1 sets up a profile of personalized interests and resources; step 2— “Take a Reality Check”—gives assessments for all three categories to help gauge and measure where users are at; step 3 sets up goals to systemically work up towards. It may seem stratified, but aided structure can be everything in working on difficulties, especially through college with so much balance and time management needed.
Stepping outside of the university, many other resources exist. Take Woebot—the app offers anonymous counseling catered specifically towards students. Most of all, remember that there are thousands of people on campus dealing with similar struggles and obstacles. A Suicide Prevention Resource Center survey found that “more than 62 percent of survey respondents are no longer attending school for a mental health related reason.” With so many people feeling isolated on a campus so large, sometimes leaning on friends, new and old, can be one of the best ways to heal hardship.