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Health and Wellness

Wellness Wednesday: Mental Health Matters

wellness coaching session

In the hustle and bustle of classes, extracurriculars and social events, it can be difficult to manage our time and easy to overlook our mental well-being. So often we focus on the physical aspects of our health, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests poor mental health can increase our risk of illnesses like diabetes, heart disease and stroke. NC State has a wealth of resources available for students, faculty and staff to care for their mental and emotional well-being.

Counseling Center

The Counseling Center offers individual, drop-in and group counseling services for NC State students at two on-campus locations. The primary location on Main Campus is housed in the Campus Health Center, with a second location on Centennial Campus located in Research Building II. In addition to Wolfline stops and permit parking near each location, there is also free visitor parking available near the Campus Health Center, and parking validation available for students visiting the Centennial Campus location. All currently enrolled, fee-paying students are eligible for any counseling service and two free psychiatric appointments at no extra cost.

Counseling Embedded in Your College 

For students who find time and location to be a barrier to accessing care, Embedded Counseling brings the counselor to you. Along with offering the same services and qualified staff, embedded counselors are more familiar with the culture and demands of your specific field of study. Book appointments that better fit into your busy schedule by finding your embedded location

Drop-In Spaces 

Perhaps you aren’t in need of consistent support, but are seeking space to discuss your challenges with someone who can help. Let’s Talk is a drop-in counseling program that provides opportunities to speak informally with a counselor at no cost and with no appointment needed. Prevention Services also offers Drop-In Spaces with topics that vary from week to week, including resilience, grief and mindfulness. These informal drop-in opportunities are available across campus in spaces like Witherspoon Student Center, Talley Student Union, North Hall, Park Shops, Campus Health, the Crafts Center and the libraries. 

Teletherapy 

If meeting in person with a counselor isn’t accessible or preferable, Mantra is available through a partnership with NC State to provide students with a teletherapy option. Mantra is free for degree-seeking students to accommodate their schedule with options to connect virtually with therapists during daytime, evening or weekend hours. Register using your NCSU email to schedule your first appointment. 

Mental Health Taskforce

The Student Mental Health Task Force was charged in fall 2022 to reevaluate the university’s mental health services, resources and policies. As of November 2023, the teams tasked with examining the feasibility of the Task Force’s recommendations have implemented or completed several of them, with various long-term projects in progress. Follow along to stay engaged with the initiatives being taken on campus to support the mental health of the Wolfpack community. 

Faculty and Staff Resources 

NC State is committed to supporting the emotional wellness of our employees. The Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FASAP) is university-sponsored, confidential and provided at no charge to you and your dependents. FASAP provides support, resources and information for personal and work-life issues. The State Health Plan also provides access to two additional well-being resources: Headway, a free platform to search for mental health providers, and Unwinding Anxiety, an award-winning, evidence-based program that provides guided video and audio lessons to help people reduce their anxiety.

Don’t Know Where to Start?

Wellness and Recreation’s nationally-certified wellness coaches specialize in goal setting, nutrition, physical activity, resilience, stress and time management to help you develop a healthy lifestyle. All students are allotted four free individual coaching sessions per semester, with appointments available virtually or in person. Group coaching is free and offered monthly for participants to explore special wellness topics focused on leading balanced and holistic lives.