Friday, August 21 6:00-6:30pm
Saturday, August 22 11:00am; 7:00pm
Sunday, August 23 NO MEETING, just send a reminder
Monday, August 24 11:00-11:30am; 7:00-8:00pm Check-in + social event
Tuesday, August 25 7:00-7:45pm
Wednesday, August 26 7:00-8:00pm
Standing Together Coming Out for Racial Justice
NAMI African American Mental Health
Coping with Anxiety
The Many Faces of Structural Racism: A Campus Conversation - UMBC is committed to facing the challenge of understanding our position in society and our role in dismantling structural racism
View a recording of the event here*
View the event slides
View the responses to Q&A
Africana Council - promotes the study of people of African descent by broadening the educational and cultural experiences of students in all majors and those who demonstrate an interest in this discipline
Women’s Center - advances gender equity from an intersectional feminist perspective through programming, support services, and advocacy for marginalized people
Mosaic Center - dedicated to creating an environment that supports cross-cultural education and collaboration at UMBC
Counseling Center - provides free and confidential short-term individual and group counseling for personal, emotional, relationship, substance abuse, and vocational concerns
Curated by Samuel Dupuy ('20), Health Administration and Policy Program
]]>We’ve all hit the same turbulence, a pandemic! Therefore, we all need to take good care of ourselves, our bodies, and our minds.
Self-care is the practice of taking an active role in protecting one's own well-being and happiness, especially during periods of stress.
Here are some of the areas that you can keep healthy by practicing self-care: Finance, Nutrition, Mental, Personal Hygiene, Fitness, and Social.
There are many areas of need for self-care. Knowing how to balance each area will help to keep your well-being in a healthy state - meaning being cautious and aware of your own physical and mental health. Keeping yourself healthy helps to transmit good vibes towards those around you.
Some negative consequences of not caring for yourself include:
● Fatigue and loss of energy
● Poor relationships
● Addiction
● Weight gain
● Sleep deprivation
Self-care is not something that only corresponds to female-identified people; male-identified people are often misled to believe they must toughen up when it comes to self-care or even mental health. However, that is not the case! Here are some positive self-care tips that anyone can use:
● Take care of your personal hygiene (e.g., shave/trim, wash your face, etc.)
● Prioritize your needs before others. This is not selfish!
● Manage your diet
● Schedule a checkup with your healthcare provider
● Get mental health support. If you feel vulnerable, reach out and talk to someone!
● Fuel and move your body properly!
● Stay socially connected with loved ones and friends
● Get enough sleep. Do not skip sleep to get more things done
If you are looking for additional self-care resources, try checking these out:
· Recreation and Physical Education are offering Group Fitness Classeswith instructors via Instagram and YouTube to work on your health and wellness while the RAC is closed.
· These unprecedented times could be hard to deal with and hard to adjust to, whether you are a student or a parent, here are some tips
· Knowing how to deal with and take care of your mental health is crucial for your own well-being. Everyone reacts and copes differently. This resource gives you ways to reduce and take care of your stress/anxiety.
· Not knowing where to go for help? MHA’s Mental Health & COVID-19 Resources can help you during these times of uncertainty.
Remember, self-care is not selfish! You must fill your own cup before you pour into others’.
Written by Samuel Dupuy ('20), Health Administration and Policy Program
]]>Samantha Smith, assistant director of health promotion in University Health Services, was a panelist for The Chronicle of Higher Education's "Promoting Health on Campus During COVID-19" webinar on July 15. The webinar was an opportunity for higher education professionals across the country to discuss the measures that colleges and universities were taking to bring students back to campuses safely. While many schools are strongly communicating the need for public health prevention practices, UMBC strongly communicated the need to keep student health and the student experience at heart. Watch the discussion.
Joint Transgender and Gender Non-Binary (TGNB) Health Statement
Counseling Center
University Health Services
Women’s Center
Campus Life’s Mosaic, Interfaith, and Pride Centers
We celebrate the monumental ruling from the Supreme Court on June 15, 2020 that upholds protections for the LGBTQ+ community against discrimination in the workplace. Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, discrimination on the basis of sex is prohibited and this ruling declares that this includes discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
At the same time, we are deeply troubled by new Federal guidelines that place limitations on non-discrimination protections in healthcare by removing the inclusion of transgender and gender non-binary (TGNB) individuals. We are troubled not only by the ruling, but also the fact that these decisions were made during Pride Month, on the fourth anniversary of the Pulse nightclub massacre, and in the midst of both a global pandemic and a movement to defend and affirm Black lives.
The erasure of these healthcare rights for TGNB people can significantly impact their access to health insurance, resources, and providers, making it more likely for them to experience inequities and unfair treatment in healthcare. Moreover, these guidelines do not align with UMBC’s commitment to inclusive excellence. We feel it is essential to reaffirm our support of the trans and non-binary communities at UMBC.
We want to assure our UMBC community that, regardless of this change at the federal level, Maryland state law protects healthcare access (including insurance coverage) for transgender and gender non-binary people. Other states may not have the same protections. UMBC students who have out-of-state health insurance that might not be as inclusive can select our student health insurance to be covered in Maryland.
The Counseling Center and University Health Services are available for questions, support, and guidance around getting your healthcare needs addressed in an inclusive and affirming manner. The Women's Center and The Mosaic, Interfaith, and Pride Centers will also continue to hold steadfast in our commitment to providing support services and educational programs, and will advocate for trans and non-binary community members' well-being and belonging.
Your identities are valid. Always. You are deserving of equitable and affirming care. Always.
We see you. We believe you. You matter. Always.
We also offer the following non-exhaustive list of local resources as options for affirming care in the areas of physical and mental health, legal support, housing and food security, and community advocacy:
Center for Black Equity (LGBTQ Focus)
On Campus Resources Include:
Counseling Center: The Trans Support Group is a group for transgender, non-binary, gender nonconforming, and gender questioning students. The group is discussion based with topics based on group consensus, with flexibility to explore current issues faced by group members. Look out for recorded webinars based on the Trans Support Group as well as news regarding Trans Support Group in the Fall semester.
LGBTQ Faculty and Staff Association
LGBTQ Student Union and the Queer and Trans People of Color (QPOC) Student Org
Office of Equity and Inclusion
The Mosaic, Interfaith and Pride Centers
Women’s Center: Spectrum is a discussion group for community members who identify as trans, genderqueer, gender fluid, outside of the gender binary, and/or those who are questioning their gender identity. Spectrum will begin meeting virtually again in the Fall.