As the semester winds down, many students are working hard to tie up loose ends and finish the semester strong. With finals rapidly approaching, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and forget the importance of taking care of your mental health.
To support students during this busy time, CSU Stanislaus offers a variety of organizations and programs dedicated to mental well-being.
Once such organization is the Stan State’s chapter of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health), which open to all students. NAMI advocates for mental health awareness and works to break the stigma surrounding mental illness.
NAMI President Jelaine Esguerra shares that while the university provides Counseling and Psychological Services, NAMI offers an additional space for students to talk openly mental health.
“Just creating that space for students to discuss what’s happening—if they can’t talk about it elsewhere—is very important,” Esguerra says. “I’m glad that NAMI is able to do that for students.”
Throughout the year, NAMI hosts meetings and events throughout that include activities and discussions to help students unwind and take their minds off everyday stressors like school work, midterms and finals.
“A lot of students are dealing with anxiety, especially stress related to school assignments,” say NAMI Vice President Jaskaran Dhillon. It’s a great way for them to feel at ease and more grounded.”
Dhillon and Esguerra also offered practical tips for maintaining mental health, such as taking walks or listening to music. Dhillon notes that he personally finds balance through Ayurvedic medicine, a traditional form of natural medicine from India.
Esguerra shares her own approach on taking care of her mental health.
“Saturdays are my mental health days, and I think it’s important for a lot of people to have them—especially if they have busy schedules and especially if they have stress from college or any other factors in their everyday lives.” She said.