Education at OHSU

Mental health tips

 Visit the Wellness Resources page for more mental health resources and the Self-massage and Meditation page for videos on self-massage, self-acupressure, and mindfulness. Check out this list of apps you can download to practice mindfulness with your phone. 

Healthy social connections can help our mood. During this time of physical distancing it is important to be mindful of ways we can maintain our connections to others. Here is information from the Cleveland Clinic on keeping us connected to the ones we love.

If you are a Portland campus student, please know that appointments are available at Student Health and Wellness via virtual visit or phone. If you would like the support and help of one of our experienced providers, please call us at 503-494-8665. We do not have a waitlist and can get you scheduled to speak with someone quickly.  

During this time, feelings of loss and uncertainty may contribute to suicidal thoughts. Your mental health and safety are priorities, and help is available. If you are thinking of suicide, please reach out. Counselors at Student Health and Wellness are available for same day crisis consultations Monday to Friday during business hours. After hours, students and postdocs can receive brief counseling interventions and crisis care by calling Student Health and Wellness at 503-494-8665 and following the prompts to get connected. For additional 24/7 support, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255 or visit their website.

Increased stress and anxiety from the COVID-19 crisis can negatively affect our sleep, which is vital to both our mental health and overall wellness. You can review these tips on how to improve your sleep.

If you are a Portland campus student, please know that appointments are available at Student Health and Wellness via virtual visit or phone. If you would like the support and help of one of our experienced providers, please call us at 503-494-8665. We do not have a waitlist and can get you scheduled to speak with someone quickly. 

During this time, feelings of loss and uncertainty may contribute to suicidal thoughts. Your mental health and safety are priorities, and help is available. If you are thinking of suicide, please reach out. Counselors at Student Health and Wellness are available for same-day crisis consultations Monday to Friday during business hours. After hours, students and postdocs can receive brief counseling interventions and crisis care by calling Student Health and Wellness at 503-494-8665 and following the prompts to get connected. For additional 24/7 support, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988 or visit their website.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has been proven to be effective in treating anxiety and depression. Dr. Russ Harris is a leader in the ACT field and has created a guide on how to manage anxiety about COVID19 using ACT principles.

If you are a Portland campus student, please know that appointments are available at Student Health and Wellness via virtual visit or phone. If you would like the support and help of one of our experienced providers, please call us at 503-494-8665. We do not have a waitlist and can get you scheduled to speak with someone quickly. 

During this time, feelings of loss and uncertainty may contribute to suicidal thoughts. Your mental health and safety are priorities, and help is available. If you are thinking of suicide, please reach out. Counselors at Student Health and Wellness are available for same-day crisis consultations Monday to Friday during business hours. After hours, students and postdocs can receive brief counseling interventions and crisis care by calling Student Health and Wellness at 503-494-8665 and following the prompts to get connected. For additional 24/7 support, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988 or visit their website.

We are in a collective moment of fear and uncertainty and without a doubt, we will get through it together. As our nervous systems respond to all the recent changes, you may find it harder to concentrate, motivate, and relax, while also finding it easier to worry, fret, and feel scattered. You are not alone in that! For some strategies that might help, check out this beautiful Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) resource for managing worry and anxiety.

If you are struggling to implement these strategies, remember that the team at Student Health and Wellness is here to support you via virtual or telephone visits. If you would like the support and help of one of our experienced providers, please call us at 503-494-8665. We can get you scheduled to speak with someone quickly.

During this time, feelings of loss and uncertainty may contribute to suicidal thoughts. Your mental health and safety are priorities, and help is available. If you are thinking of suicide, please reach out. Counselors at Student Health and Wellness are available for same-day crisis consultations Monday to Friday during business hours. After hours, students and postdocs can receive brief counseling interventions and crisis care by calling Student Health and Wellness at 503-494-8665 and following the prompts to get connected. For additional 24/7 support, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988 or visit their website.

A letter from Hannah Hoeflich, PsyD

Suicide Prevention Coordinator and Psychologist at SHW

These are tough times full of uncertainty and change. Many are experiencing intense emotions or mental health concerns, and some people are thinking of suicide. Social support can be a vital lifeline for people considering suicide, and, as a friend or colleague, you may be in the position to help.

Most people who think about suicide do not kill themselves. Suicidal thoughts are common, and most people who think of suicide do not end their lives. Most get help, weather the storm, and build a life worth living. However, suicidal thoughts can be life-threatening, and it is important that we check in with one another, provide support, and connect to mental health resources.

Notice invitations to talk about suicide. Most people at risk of suicide communicate their distress in obvious or subtle ways. As a community, we must notice factors that may indicate someone is considering suicide and provide help when needed.

During this time of physical distancing, it is harder to notice when someone is struggling. Whereas we can often immediately tell if a friend or colleague seems "off" during a face-to-face interaction, it is much harder to gather this information when interacting through technologies such as text or email. Social media portrayals also may not accurately reflect someone's well-being. Do your best to notice if a friend is acting in a way that indicates they are struggling. These include:

  • Social withdrawal. There have been changes to how we connect socially during the pandemic. In our current environment, withdrawal may mean that someone is not showing up to virtual happy hours or not returning texts.
  • Increased drug/alcohol use may be a sign of underlying emotional distress. Substance use can increase impulsivity, a risk factor for suicide.
  • Mood changes. Both depressed mood and unusually elevated mood may be indicators of mental health concerns that can precede suicidal thoughts.
  • Communicating pain. Voicing despair, anger, or a desire to die.
  • Your intuition may be your most important tool for discerning whether someone is struggling. Trust your gut.

Talk about suicide if you are concerned. The need to talk explicitly about suicide is now more important than ever. We cannot know unless we ask. Asking the question, "are you thinking of suicide?" or "are you thinking of ending your life?" can feel scary to some people. Please know that it is okay to feel scared as you move into this vulnerable conversation.

Even with physical distance, be emotionally close. If a friend or colleague discloses suicidal thoughts, learn more. Make space for them to talk about their struggles and concerns. Take time to listen without attempting to solve their problems or convincing them to feel "better." Although it might sound counter-intuitive, one of the best ways to help someone feel better is to give them permission to feel bad. Communicate that it's okay for your friend or colleague to feel what they're feeling. Make it clear that you're not judging them for their thoughts and feelings.

Know where to get help. Suicidal thoughts are a sign that help is needed. As a peer, you are not able to provide treatment, but you can be a vital support to help connect them to care. Provide phone numbers and make the phone call together with your friend or colleague if they are willing.

  • Students and Post-Doctoral Scholars can access Student Health and Wellness for same-day crisis appointments during business hours. For after-hours support, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741741.
  • Benefited Employees are eligible for Spark Employee Assistance Program's free, 24/7 counseling services.
  • Residents, Faculty, and Fellows in the School of Medicine can contact the Resident Faculty Wellness Program urgent pager for crisis-related care.

You are welcome to connect with these resources to gain support and receive consultation about how to best support your friend and also process your own emotional reactions. Please also look at our Suicide Prevention webpage.