Counseling and Wellness Services
Wednesday’s Words of Wellness
Words of Wellness are resources for students and the college community to access and utilize to improve and maintain their overall wellness.
While the Wellness Center’s Counseling and Wellness Services are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for counseling, consultation, and referral needs to currently registered students, on a remote basis either by phone or Zoom video sessions, staff members want to share additional resources that may be beneficial during this time.
Today, we are focusing on depression. Therapistaid.com writes “Depression is a disorder that affects more than 10 percent of the population over the course of their lives, but it continues to be poorly understood. Those with depression and their loved ones, struggle to understand what they are experiencing. It can be comforting to learn that they are not alone in their thoughts and feelings.”
As we continue to navigate life during a pandemic, we’re making many, ongoing adjustments to our daily routines and how we navigate the world. We are living in stressful and uncertain times. This stress and uncertainty can certainly contribute to symptoms of depression, among other mental health concerns. Below you will find information identifying what depression is, the cycle of depression, how to support someone with depression, as well as information about suicide, and college and community support resources.
Understanding Depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental illness with symptoms that affect a person’s thoughts, feelings and behavior. Depression is widespread, but poorly understood. The four-minute video below provides an overview of what depression actually is including discussion of symptoms, causes, and treatment.
Video Link: What is Depression? by TherapistAid.com
Click here to view a depression information page
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The Cycle of Depression (Therapist Aid)
Depression has a dangerous tendency to build upon itself. When depression saps your confidence and motivation, it’s tempting to isolate or do the bare minimum. As a result, normal life tasks such as work and relationships start to fall by the wayside. Eventually, doing the bare minimum creates new problems, which cause stress and worsening depression. The cycle continues, stronger than before. The Cycle of Depression handout (link below) and the diagram at right illustrate how the symptoms of depression encourage maladaptive behaviors, which exacerbate stressors, and lead back to worsening symptoms.
Click here to view the Cycle of Depression information sheet.
Supporting Someone with Depression (Therapist Aid)
Supporting a loved one with depression can be a painful and emotionally draining experience. Depression doesn’t just affect one person; it also affects those around them. Oftentimes, friends and family feel lost. They want to help, but they don’t know where to begin. The Supporting Someone with Depression worksheet (link below) describes several practical and meaningful ways to support someone who is battling depression. Tips include providing social support, encouraging professional help, supporting healthy habits, and more.
Click here for the Supporting Someone with Depression information sheet.
Kevin Breel didn’t look like a depressed kid: team captain, at every party, funny and confident. But he tells the story of the night he realized that — to save his own life — he needed to say four simple words: I suffer from depression.
Video Links to TED Talk: Confessions of a Depressed Comic
Coping with Depression
Protective Factors (TherapistAid.com)
Protective factors are things that contribute to mental health, and allow a person to be resilient in the face of challenges. Someone with a lot of protective factors — such as strong relationships and healthy coping skills — will be better equipped to overcome life’s obstacles. The Protective Factors worksheet (link below) includes both a psychoeducation and an interactive component. The psychoeducation portion describes what protective factors are, along with several practical examples. In the interactive component, you will identify your strengths and weaknesses, and then describe how you would like to improve upon their protective factors.
Click here for the Protective Factors for Mental Health worksheet.
Building Happiness (TherapistAid.com)
Happiness takes work. Changes in life circumstances like a promotion or a new relationship might result in a temporary happiness boost, but before long the excitement levels off. The Building Happiness (Exercises) worksheet (link below) includes a list of activities that have been found to help build sustained happiness, when practiced regularly. The exercises that are described include gratitudes, acts of kindness, physical exercise, meditation, positive journaling, and fostering relationships.
Click here for the Building Happiness worksheet.
Mental Health Benefits of Exercise (TherapistAid.com)
Research over the past decade has taught us about the close link between mental health and exercise. Exercise has been found to help treat and prevent depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and more.
Click here to learn more about the Mental Health Benefits of Exercise.
Engage in Self-Care (TherapistAid.com)
Self-care means taking time to do things you enjoy, and taking care of yourself. When used consistently, self-care can reduce stress, relieve uncomfortable emotions and improve physical health.
Click here for a list of Self-Care Tips.
Information about Suicide Prevention and Support Resources
The American Foundation of Suicide Prevention offers risk factors and warning signs for suicide. While there is no single cause for suicide, there are risk factors and warning signs which may increase likelihood of an attempt. Learning them can save lives. Liks to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website and Risk Factors and Warning Signs for Suicide.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK or text TALK to 741741. This link to the NSPL website includes a “chat” feature. “We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.”
Additional Community Support Resources
Middle Earth through SUNY Albany
(Peer-to-Peer Assistance Hotline: 518-442-5777)
The peer-to-peer assistance hotline established at SUNY Albany now is accessible system-wide. Students experiencing feelings such as loneliness, depression, anxiety, or uncertainty can call the hotline to connect with a trained student peer. Students do not need to be in crisis to use this hotline. It’s a stigma-free, secure line for connecting about emotional, social, and other life issues. The phone lines are staffed by peers trained to assess students’ well-being and, if necessary, link them with the appropriate mental health services, academic or technological resources, or financial assistance available at their respective campuses. The hotline is open 1 p.m. through midnight Monday through Thursday, and operates 24/7 over the weekend, beginning on Fridays at 1 p.m. and closing on Sundays at 11:59 p.m. during the fall and spring semesters. The number is (518) 442-5777. Trained peers from the Middle Earth program also offer virtual “hangout spaces” over Zoom Monday through Thursday from 3 to 4 p.m. during each semester to provide an additional source of connection for students in quarantine or isolation.
SUNY Crisis Text Line available 24/7
SUNY’s 24/7 crisis text line was launched in May in tandem with the New York State Office of Mental Health. The crisis text line is a confidential text line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Crisis counselors are committed and carefully trained volunteers from across the United States. They support students experiencing feelings of isolation, stress, or suicidality. With an emphasis on building rapport and trust, crisis counselors help texters explore the issues, establish the texter’s goal, and collaboratively problem solve to come up with a plan for the texter to stay safe. To access the crisis text line, students simply text Got5U to 741-741.
Hudson Valley Community College Resources
Counseling and Wellness Services
Licensed, professional counselors provide personal and psychological counseling to students seeking more in-depth guidance related to their overall well-being. Students may take advantage of confidential individual and/or group counseling services. Many college students encounter a mental health concern at some point during their time on campus. Counseling Services offers free, anonymous and online screenings for mental health concerns.
Take a Mental Health Screening
If you want or need support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Counseling and Wellness Services by calling (518) 629-7320 or emailing us at counseling@hvcc.edu. We are here to help support you!
Public Safety
The safety of students, staff and visitors on campus is the primary concern of the Public Safety department. To call for assistance during ANY emergency, dial 911 from a campus phone or (518) 629-7210. Use a red emergency phone located in campus buildings or an outdoor emergency phone identified by the blue light. Once you call, you will be connected with the Department of Public Safety. Explain the nature of the emergency and stay on the line for further instruction. (If you call 911 from your cell phone, you will be connected to a regional dispatch center. You will then need to accurately describe where you are and your call will be forwarded to the local agency. This may delay the response time as the call is re-directed.) It is suggested that you program your cell phone with the Department of Public Safety number (518) 629-7210, as well as your local police agency.
Any student experiencing a mental health crisis while on campus, please call Public Safety for immediate assistance at (518) 629-7210.
If you want or need support, or have any questions regarding depression, suicide, mental health or wellness, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Counseling and Wellness Services by calling (518) 629-7320 or emailing us at counseling@hvcc.edu.
We are here to support you!
Counseling and Wellness Services
Siek Campus Center Room 270
(518) 629-7320
counseling@hvcc.edu
Published: Wed, 17 Feb 2021 12:45:25 +0000 by k.weeks