Black swans swim in Furman Lake.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and college-age people are at increased risk of several mental health issues, and college students are increasingly using mental health resources.
The staff of the Trone Center for Mental Fitness wants to remind the Furman community of ways to stay mentally fit year-round.
- Spend enough time with friends; avoid isolation
- Engage in hobbies – make time for ones you already enjoy or try a new one
- Take slow, deep breaths regularly, especially when you’re feeling stressed
- Make time for relaxing self care every day (activities you enjoy like hobbies, taking a walk, listening to music you love, reading, etc.)
- Pay attention to nutrition and hydration every day
- Engage in body movement of some kind (exercise, walking, stretching, dancing, etc.)
- Keep your space clean and cozy
- Set boundaries
- Socialize with your support system (family, friends, a partner)
- Sleep! Ideally, sleep 7-9 hours per night.
- Use mental health apps like Head Space (free for Furman students)
- Limit screen time and/or customize your social media feed to reflect how you want to feel and live. Constant messages and images about unrealistic or “ideal” appearances can be detrimental to your self-esteem.
- Spend time outside
- Students can call the campus hotline for support: 864-294-3031; press 3
- Anyone can get support from the national hotline: 988
The Trone Center for Mental Fitness opened in renovated space on campus in November, thanks to a $10 million gift from David ’77 and June Trone. In any given year, about a quarter of Furman’s students use the center to see a counselor. Trone wanted the name of the center to reflect its emphasis on fitness. Like staying physically fit, mental fitness, and reducing stigma, requires steady attention, and it’s something that benefits everyone.