Common Concerns

Resources

The Student Counseling Center provides the following links for our JU community to use to gather information and resources about a variety of common concerns that college students face. While we aim to collect resources that are credible and evidence-based, we do not assume responsibility for the information provided on these sites. These resources are not intended as a substitute for counseling, but may help guide you in your understanding of common life experiences and learning about tools to address challenges. If you have questions about any of these topics, please contact the SCC or bring the material to your next session with your counselor. 

College Mental Health

Mental Health in College Students: Learn about the current state of mental health on college campuses, and find in-depth information on many common concerns and diagnoses, how to access accommodations, and how to find support both on campus and in your community. 

Mental Health in College: Recommendations for navigating college while experiencing mental health concerns.

Anxiety & Stress

A Student's Guide to Managing Stress: Gain an understanding of the function, presentation, and effects of stress in your life, as well as stress management techniques, and resources that are available to college students. 

Understanding Anxiety: Brief articles about anxiety, its types, causes, and related topics. 

Anxiety Disorders: An overview of anxiety, its signs and symptoms, risk factors, treatments, and therapies. 

Ways to Reduce Stress: Three simple breathing and mindfulness techniques.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Practice this technique to help relax and relieve tension held in the body. 

The HeartMath Experience Course: Learn about biofeedback and mindfulness techniques (free for a limited time).

Medito Foundation: Free website and app for guided mindfulness and meditation.

Depression

Depression Basics: A detailed guide about the various types of depression, its symptoms, treatment options, and resources. 

Coping With Depression: Practical tips and strategies for coping with depression and taking action to improve your wellness.

DBT Distress Tolerance Skills: A skill guide to help you navigate times of emotional crisis.

The Reflectly App: A daily self-care journal.

Suicide

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 9-8-8 | Call or text this number to connect immediately with a trained crisis worker if you are thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support.

Helping Yourself: Resources and guidance for people experiencing thoughts of suicide.

Helping Someone Else: Resources and guidance for understanding and supporting people experiencing thoughts of suicide.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: An organization providing support and hope for those affected by suicide.

Coping Skills

Healthy Coping Skills for Uncomfortable Emotions: Learn about emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies.

Coping Skills: Ideas for in-the-moment tools to manage difficult emotions.

Mindful Coping Skills: Strategies to increase calm, focus, and clarity during times of distress.

Getting Started with Mindfulness: Learn about mindfulness and how to start practicing it. 

25 Coping Skills Everyone Needs (Video): Gain ideas for helpful coping skills to start practicing. 

Self-Care

12 Ways to Take Better Care of Yourself: A guide to the basics of self-care, and ideas for investing in yourself.

Self-Care Check-In: A worksheet to help you assess your current state of self-care and gain ideas for new ways to take care of yourself. 

Healthy Relationships

The Gottman Institute Blog: An assortment of articles that provide wisdom and research about topics that can help support and strengthen marriages, families, and relationships.

One Love Helpful Relationship Tools: An introduction to identifying healthy and unhealthy behavior in relationships. 

The Easiest Way to Improve Your Relationship (Video): A short video about paying attention to your partner during small, everyday moments. 

Effective Communication: A guide to understanding and engaging in effective communication with the people in your life.

Dealing With a Breakup or Divorce: A guide to coping with loss, taking care of yourself, and learning important lessons after a relationship ends.

Supporting a Loved One

Empathy (Video): A short animated video describing the best way to help ease someone's pain.

Supporting a Loved One Struggling with Mental Health: Practical "Dos and Dont's" for supporting a loved one.

How to Talk (and Listen) to Someone Experiencing Suicidal Thoughts: A guide for talking about suicide.

Supporting a Loved One Experiencing Abuse: Ways to support a loved one in an abusive relationship.

Helping a Friend with Addiction: A guide for understanding and talking to a loved one about addiction. 

Studying & Test Anxiety

How to Reduce Test Anxiety for College Students: A guide to understanding and responding to text anxiety. 

Essential Tips for Test Anxiety: Helpful tips for before, during, and after taking a test.

Study Tips: Six strategies to boost your study sessions. 

Studying 101: Learn about effective study strategies to study smarter, not harder. 

How to Stop Procrastinating: A guide to understanding and working through irrational delay.

LGBTQ+ Support

Trevor Support Center: A collection of information and resources related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and more.

Human Rights Campaign: A collection of resources related to mental, physical, social, relational, occupational, and educational wellness for people who are LGBTQ+.

JASMYN: A Jacksonville organization that supports and empowers LGBTQ young people by creating safe space, providing health and wholeness services, and offering youth development opportunities, while bringing people and resources together to promote equality and human rights.

PFLAG of Jacksonville: Support for parents, families, and allies of people who are LGBT+.

Students of Color Support

Talking About Race: Provides tools and guidance to empower your journey and inspire conversations about race.

Therapy for Black Girls Blog & Podcast: An online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls. 

Filling our Cups: Four ways people of color can foster mental health and practice restorative healing.

Latinx Therapy: A collection of online content about Latinx mental health topics, and book recommendations in Spanish and English.

Asians Do Therapy: An online site working to reduce mental health stigma and increase counseling accessibility for people who are Asian.

Mental Health Issues Facing the Black Community: An overview of the effect of racism, common mental health concerns among Black people, and support in finding culturally-competent care. 

Sleeping

Fix Your Sleep Hygiene: Simple strategies to improve your sleep hygiene and get a quality night of sleep.

Sleep Foundation: A collection of reources about all-things sleep.

Eating

The Student's Guide to Nutrition: Helpful tips for fueling your body and your brain. 

Understanding Eating Disorders: A detailed guide about types of eating disorders, causes, treatments, resources, support, and common questions.

The Alliance for Eating Disorders: Support for individuals and loved ones affected by eating disorders. Offers free weekly therapist-led support groups. 

National Eating Disorders Association: Support for individuals and families affected by eating disorders. 

Free Food: Resources for free food pantries, banks, and coupons throughout Jacksonville, FL.

Sexual Health & Wellness

National Coalition for Sexual Health: A comprehensive resource guide ranging from sexual concerns, to pleasure, to getting help.

Pillow Talks Podcast: Sex therapist and husband duo talking about all things sex!

Sexual Health Resources: Education about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) including statistics, coping, advocacy, and support. 

Healthy Sex: An online education resource guide to support healthy, love-based sexuality. 

Substance Use

Alcohol Rehab Help: Information and resources about alcohol addiction and recovery.

What Is Addiction?: Learn about substance use, including opioids, marijuana, adderall, alcohol, meth, and cocaine.