Supporting You and Our Students During Stressful Times
October 20, 2023 8:01 PM

Dear Faculty and Staff,

We are halfway through the fall semester and undoubtedly you and your students are busy with midterms, projects and deadlines, all while trying to balance life outside of work. Tumultuous world events—natural and human-made—only add to our collective stress, anxiety, exhaustion, anger, and host of other emotions. 

The university offers a variety of resources to support you and our students, including: 

STUDENT SUPPORT RESOURCES

Counseling Center
2nd Floor, Turner Student Services Building
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, and Friday
8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
Phone: 217-333-3704
counselingcenter.illinois.edu/counseling

McKinley Mental Health
313 McKinley Health Center
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
Phone: 217-333-2700

WellTrack Interactive Self-Help
WellTrack is an app that allows users to track their moods and learn about how they can better control conditions like anxiety and depression. It is available to all Illinois students, faculty, and staff—you do not need to be a client of the Counseling Center to access it.
counselingcenter.illinois.edu/WellTrack

Counseling Center Skill-Building Programming
This hub of resources includes information to aid students in coping with the stress and challenges of college life and beyond.
counselingcenter.illinois.edu/outreach-and-prevention/outreach-series

McKinley Health Center, Main Lobby
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
mckinley.illinois.edu

McKinley Online Relaxation Exercises
Take a break to engage in relaxation through guided imagery, deep breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation exercises.
mckinley.illinois.edu/relax

McKinley Self-Care Station Vending Machines
Free, over-the-counter self-care supplies for students. I-Card required.

• Illini Union, First Floor (Southeast)
• Student Dining & Residential Programs Building (SDRP), Mail Room
• Grainger Library, Main Level
• ACES Library, Main Level

McKinley’s Health Education unit has staff who provide one-on-one consultations in nutrition, sexual health and stress management to students. Students should call McKinley at 217-333-2700 to schedule an appointment.

MindWise Mental Health Screenings
Encourage students to take a quick screening to see if feelings like prolonged sadness, anxiety, irritability, loss of pleasure, and/or hopelessness might actually be related to depression. Other screenings for generalized anxiety disorder, alcohol misuse, eating disorders, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder are also available.
counselingcenter.illinois.edu/screenings

University Wellness Resources Portal
Students, faculty and staff can get connected to services for mental health, wellness, access and accommodation all in one place.
wellness.illinois.edu

After-Hours Psychological Emergencies and Other Critical Problems
The Counseling Center and McKinley Health Center collaborate with Rosecrance Central Illinois to provide students with Psychological Emergency Services, which are available 24 hours per day, 365 days a year, and focus on problems that need to be addressed immediately (e.g., serious illness, death in the family, severe anxiety, suicidal crisis).

For a consultation with a mental health professional after office hours, students should call the Crisis Line at 217-359-4141. The student, together with a mental health professional, will strategize the best way to make certain help is received.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 for everyone, is free, and confidential. Call or text 988 for help.

For immediate life-safety issues, always call 911. 

Religious Support
Religious organizations in our community support various faith traditions. See odos.illinois.edu/resources/rwa for links to specific groups.

Cultural & Resource Center Support
For a complete listing of cultural and resource centers visit ssib.illinois.edu.

College Offices & Academic Deans
College offices and the academic deans can also provide assistance for challenges impacting students’ academics. Find a college or school contact.

Office of the Dean of Students
Should your students have any questions regarding how to access any of the above resources, how their concerns might impact their academics, or how best to support a friend in need, know, too, that the Student Assistance Center (SAC) in the Office of the Dean of Students is here to help. Staff in the SAC are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Additionally, the Emergency Dean Program provides a university administrator who is on-call to assist should students experience a crisis that requires an immediate university response after business hours To reach the SAC or the Emergency Dean, please call 217-333-0050. You can find additional information about these programs at odos.illinois.edu/community-of-care.

FACULTY & STAFF SUPPORT RESOURCES

Faculty Staff Assistance Services (FSAS)
Free confidential assistance to employees and their families who may be experiencing difficulties including assessments, short-term counseling, crisis services, and referrals to appropriate resources.
humanresources.illinois.edu/FSAWS

If you experience a crisis, outside of regular business hours, please call the FSAS Crisis Line at 217-244-7739.

Please take care of yourself, your colleagues and our students.

Sincerely,

John Coleman
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost

Danita M. Brown Young
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Shari Mickey-Boggs
Senior Associate Chancellor for Human Resources