Each year, millions
of people navigate the lived experience of mental illness. UMBC's
Office of Accessibility and Disability Services joins the movement with
its many departmental partnerships, to promote mental health awareness,
fight stigma, and provide support. One in five people will have a mental
health diagnosis in their lifetime. We are in this together.
While more people are on campus now we are sharing, NAMI's Strength over Silence
series which provides stories of courage, culture and community to
share lived experiences, resilience and recovery from African American
and Latinx communities in anticipation of National Minority Mental Health Month in July.
Mindfulness
and meditation practices can boost mental health - look into these apps
to engage in this practice at a time that works best for you:
Insight Timer: https://insighttimer.com/
Smiling Mind: https://www.smilingmind.com.au/
Calm: https://www.calm.com/
UCLA Mindful: https://www.uclahealth.org/ucla-mindful
Stop, Breathe, Think: https://www.stopbreathethink.com/
Being physically active also boosts mental health. If you would like to do more than walk around your neighborhood, see what classes UMBC's Recreation Department offers for remote participation via this link to their website.
While Accessibility & Disability
Services works with faculty, staff, and student employee work
accommodations and campus accessibility, and Student Disability Services manage academic accommodation requests, the following links for campus and
community-based information and resources offer more depth:
Students (undergraduate and graduate) groups and resources include:
UMBC Counseling Center (Link) which includes
Faculty and staff mental health supports available through Human Resources include
UMBC's Wellness Initiative
Connecting with mental health providers and wellness coaches through employee health benefits, as well as
Connecting with mental health providers and wellness coaches through employee health benefits, as well as
24/7 free confidential counseling via the Employee Assistance Program (link)
If a campus member's health situation changes (such as a recent injury or diagnosis, they can apply for, or update academic accommodation requests via Student Disability Services (link) and work-related accommodations via Accessibility & Disability Services (link). ADS works in partnership with HR for faculty, staff and student worker job-related situations.
If a campus member's health situation changes (such as a recent injury or diagnosis, they can apply for, or update academic accommodation requests via Student Disability Services (link) and work-related accommodations via Accessibility & Disability Services (link). ADS works in partnership with HR for faculty, staff and student worker job-related situations.
Community
While
some 24 hour resources are provided, it's important to know that
anyone can have a moment of crisis, and are people available to listen
and help at any time, including:
-
Maryland 211, as in, dial 2-1-1 for help
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or use the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741
Have a safe and healthy month!
Photo illuminated neon "Open" sign by Prateek Katyal on Unsplash