COVID-19 Mental Health

• Campus/Local Resources

  • Counseling and Psychological Services: Students in need of services, call 864-656-2451 during business hours (8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) to access care. A brief phone screen will be conducted to determine the best way to serve your needs. If you are currently receiving services, reply promptly to the secure message from your counselor.

    Our overnight and over-the-weekend emergency phone-support service is available by calling CAPS at 864-656-2451 and selecting option 2 from the menu.

    At this time, CAPS providers are bound by licensing laws to provide services, including remote services, in the state in which they are licensed. Therefore, students located outside South Carolina will be assisted with accessing care in their communities.

    • Therapy Assistance Online (TAO) (available to students, faculty and staff): Any person with a Clemson.edu email address has access to CAPS' online program called Therapy Assistance Online (TAO). There are nine online treatments with multiple modules from which you can select to best address your concerns. If you have questions about utilizing this service, please contact CAPS at 864-656-2451.

    • TAO Mindfulness Exercises (available to everyone): In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, many people are struggling with worry and anxiety. To help everyone cope, TAO has made mindfulness exercises available to those in need through this difficult time.

  • Be Well:  There are many opportunities and events across campus that support positive mental health for our students.

  • Suicide and Crisis Lifeline –  Call or text 988: The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a  24-hour, 7-day a week confidential hotline offering a nonjudgmental sounding board for people to talk about life's struggles. Trained phone workers are available to offer a listening ear and to provide community resources and crisis intervention.

  • Crisis Textline – Text “tigers” to 741-741: The Crisis Textline is open to anyone in need of support. You will receive access to a trained, anonymous, free crisis counselor.

• Tips to Manage COVID-19 Stress

  Naming what you’re experiencing is one of the first steps to mental health and well-being. Take a look at this article to better understand what many of us are likely feeling during this turbulent time:  Harvard Business Review – That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief

  When dealing with unexpected and stressful events, it is not uncommon to have signs of distress that seem outside of how we normally cope.

  First start with recognizing what you are experiencing.

  Signs of Distress:

  • Excessive fear and worry

  • Prolonged sadness or irritability

  • Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits

  • Significant loneliness

  • Struggles to concentrate

  • Risky or impulsive behavior

  • Confused thinking

  • Thoughts of harming yourself or someone else

  • Strong mood swings

  • Hopelessness

  • Using substances to deal with feelings

  It's important to note that we are not helpless in light of current news events. We can always choose our response. If you are struggling, here are some things you can do to take care of your mental health in the face of uncertainty.

  Tips adapted from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:

  • Separate what is in your control from what is not. There are things you can do, and it’s helpful to focus on those. Wash your hands. Remind others to wash theirs. Take your vitamins. Limit your consumption of news (Do you really need to know what is happening on a cruise ship you aren’t on?).
  • Do what helps you feel a sense of safety. This will be different for everyone, and it's important not to compare yourself to others. Social distancing is strongly recommended, but make sure you are staying connected with others even if it just by phone or FaceTime.
  • Get outside in nature – even if you are avoiding crowds. Take a walk. Get out in the sunshine. It is important to get some fresh air. Exercise also helps both your physical and mental health.
  • Challenge yourself to stay in the present. Perhaps your worry is compounding—you are not only thinking about what is currently happening, but also projecting into the future. When you find yourself worrying about something that hasn’t happened, gently bring yourself back to the present moment. Notice the sights, sounds, tastes and other sensory experiences in your immediate moment and name them. Engaging in mindfulness activities is one way to help stay grounded when things feel beyond your control. For more information about mindfulness, visit our Koru Mindfulness program and consider enrolling in our online version.
  • Stay connected and reach out if you need more support. Talk to trusted friends about what you are feeling. If you are feeling particularly anxious or if you are struggling with your mental health, it’s ok to reach out to a mental health professional for support. You don’t have to be alone with your worry, and it can be comforting to share what you are experiencing with those trained to help.
• Mindfulness and Exercise Can Help

  Try practicing mindfulness. There are great apps to try on your own. If you want a more personal experience, Healthy Campus offers  Koru Mindfulness training online for employees and students. Yoga is also a great combination of meditation and movement. See the links below for more information.

  Mindfulness

  • Headspace: mindful meditation
  • Calm: relaxation, sleep and meditation
  • Koru Mindfulness Course

  Exercise

  • Yoga with Adrienne YouTube Channel
  • Peloton: free app for 90 days; yoga, strength training, etc.
  • Nike Training Club

  Aesthetic Relief

  • Online museums and art exhibits
• General Health and Well-being: CampusWell by Student Health 101
  • What you need to know about coronavirus (COVID-19)
  • Help stop the spread of coronavirus: 5 steps to proper handwashing
  • Stuck at home? 7 dos and don’ts to make the best of social distancing
• Additional Online Resources
  • Clemson University COVID-19 Updates and Resources
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): COVID-19
    • Situation Summary
  • John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center: What is Social Distancing?
  • Seven crucial research findings that can help people deal with COVID-19
  • Active Minds: Mental Health Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic
  • Mental Health America: Mental Health and COVID-19 – Information and Resources
  • SAMHSA: Taking Care of Mental Health While Social Distancing
  • The Jed Foundation: Tips on Managing Stress and Anxiety

  For Faculty and Staff:

  • PEBA Wellness Programs
    • Health Coaching: helps those who have behavioral or chronic medical conditions
    • Rally: motivational and other support to make simple changes to daily routine, set goals and stay on target to get moving, eat better and feel happier
  • How leaders can maximize trust and minimize stress during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Guides and resources to support your work with students
  • Psychologists’ advice for newly remote workers

Tips for Your Well-being

• Practice social distancing

  Consider your role in decreasing the transmission of the virus. Even if you are in the low-risk category, your role is critical in limiting the transmission to others. Tap on your capacity to consider the well-being of others as we all face this COVID-19 life experience together.

• Stay informed

  Aim to get the facts, and adopt a more analytical approach to information about the outbreak. Verify information, and lean on trusted news outlets that avoid sensationalism. The Clemson University COVID-19 web page is an excellent starting point. Limit exposure to the news to no more than 30 minutes per day.

• Avoid drawing firm conclusions, and take a flexible attitude

  The plans you had prior to the COVID-19 outbreak are undergoing revisions. It is normal to feel a sense of loss. Accept that attaining your goals is still possible — just through a different way.

• Stay connected

  Social distancing does not mean social disengagement. Staying connected is going to take some creativity. Take the challenge to find ways of maintaining your social networks. Calling, texting or chatting on social media platforms are still useful. Scheduling a virtual lunch can be enjoyable.

• Mind the body

  Often, in response to stress, we may over eat (nervous eating), or our appetite may decrease to the point that we have to remind ourselves to eat. Make it a point to eat at least three times per day, and aim for well-balanced meals. Engage in exercise, and get plenty of sleep.

• Structure your day

  You have learned to abide by deadlines before COVID-19 and are being challenged to adapt. Transitioning to e-learning still retains the deadlines, but the customary structure of going to class is no longer. Set up a rhythm to your day. Aim to get up and go to bed at the same time each day. Go through your grooming routine, and get dressed for class. Structure your study time, and do not overlook your breaks.

• Know when to seek additional help

  If your reactions are still overwhelming and pervasive after your attempts at self-help, consider contacting CAPS.