Mental Health

Anna Scanlan

As the world begins to return to some semblance of normalcy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional college life is also beginning to return. Going from fully online classes during the pandemic to almost fully in-person classes has been quite a shift, so it’s important for students to reach out for help when they begin to feel overwhelmed. This is especially important for Honors students, as rigorous courses and extracurricular involvement can easily cause stress to build.

With this in mind, the Honors Program has been actively placing emphasis on students’ mental health. Edye Cowan notes that, “Mental health is just as important as physical health. If students don’t take care of their mental health – everything else will suffer – their academic performance and ultimately, their physical health.” Honors students strive for success in both academics and in their extracurricular activities. If they don’t devote time to taking care of their mental health, burnout can set in.

This year, the Honors Program has done several things to combat potential stress for Honors students. The implementation of Honors Helping Huskies provides a way for students to navigate struggles related to finances, schoolwork and mental health. This resource gives students a streamlined way to connect with Honors fellows, Honors advisors, Student Financial Aid Advising Services, and Counseling and Consultation Services. Several other mental health events, such as the Managing Stress and Self-care Program and the Mental Health First Aid training course, were offered this year.

Erin Wallin, a nutrition major and Honors fellow, helped shape the Managing Stress and Self-care Program. This program focuses on the various aspects of mental health including nutrition, physical activity and proper sleep. The eight-hour Mental Health First Aid training course was provided with funding from the DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board and in conjunction with Northwestern Medicine Community Education. This training course, offered to NIU faculty and Honors students in fall 2021, is designed to teach participants about mental health and substance-use issues, and how to help someone who may be experiencing challenges with these issues.

Each group of Honors fellows has unique interests and skills that bring new ideas to the Honors Program. The new fellows and the extraordinary circumstances of the last few years have prompted the program to shift and build on those new ideas. Looking at self-care and mental health from many angles isn’t something that has always been done, and it’s something we all hope will continue into the future. Looking at mental health through different lenses provides a way to reach as many students as possible. By offering a variety of programs focused on self-care and mental health, students are exposed to many perspectives and are more likely to find strategies that work for them, allowing them to more easily integrate self-care into their daily lives.

The mental health of Honors students is very important to the Honors Program. With continued focus on programs like these, students can gain assistance in an aspect of their life that isn’t talked about much. With the recent destigmatizing of mental health in the media, students have begun to feel more comfortable opening up about their internal struggles, and the Honors Program hopes to continue helping students embrace the things they need to do to prioritize their health.

Many students are facing mental health issues at NIU.