Campus Life offers post-election mental health support

Every choice has a winner and a loser; overnight, 300 million lives change.

Waking up the day after the election is a celebration for some and a fight for others. Concerns about the mental well-being of voters are high during elections. Seventy-seven percent of adults identified choice as a major source of anxiety, according to the American Psychological Association.

Those concerns don’t stop at the polls or after the polls are counted. In the following days, emotions are high and mental health is a priority.

OSU Campus Life has presented a list of equipment after the election for students to take advantage of as they go about anything they might be hearing after the election.

“We realize, and other companies realize, that before an election there can be a lot of stress on students, whether it’s relationship stress, stress about what the outcome might be and what the consequences will be. of what that outcome might be,” Campus Life Director Scott Alexander said.

Resources include tips for improving mental health and giving others grace in the aftermath. OSU Campus Life encourages students to look beyond the news and see the people.

“Political discussions can change quickly, making it difficult for us to denigrate others,” according to the Campus Life resource page.

Other tips include taking a break from social media and the 24/7 news cycle and focusing on what you can control, like getting involved in your community and student government to make a difference.

Connecting with friends and classmates is a great way to find peace in the chaos. Campus Life staff are ready to be helpful and friendly to students.

“We want to be able to inform students of places they can go to get the support they need and have the conversations they need to have,” Alexander said.

Alexander said Campus Life can help, but students can speak up for themselves and their friends.

Care Reports allow students to submit anonymous forms for non-emergency situations. Students can send one for friends too if they need help or are nervous about asking for help. Campus Life will reach out and start a conversation.

“(Observation Reports) can also be a way for students to express themselves to say, ‘Hey, I’m really struggling with this, and I have a lot of unanswered questions, Alexander said. a lot of confusion about what this election result will mean for my life. So they can use the care report to explain themselves. ”

Students have access to University Counseling Services, University Health Services, and the Center for Mental Health Services to supplement Care Records.

Campus Life has a self-care meeting on Tuesdays that is open to all students. Meanwhile, the beloved campus mental health group, Pete’s Pet Posse, is hosting several events, including Furry Friend Friday at the Colvin Recreation Center at 10 a.m. and Muttday Monday at Edmon Low to kick off the month. if.

“Take good care of yourself, and if you need help, know that again, we expected these things, and we want to be able to provide that help and that care,” Alexander said.

When asked what he would say to students who have negative feelings and worries about the election, Alexander said that students are not alone no matter what they are struggling with.

“Don’t feel like you’re the only one who has a certain feeling or a certain reaction,” Alexander said. “Know that there are people who want to give that help and not just get support.”

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