UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As fall semester classes and activities kick into high gear, Penn State is reminding students of the resources available to support their mental health.
Natalie Hernandez, senior director of Penn State Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), and Brett Scofield, CAPS associate director, both note that the number of college students seeking mental health services more broadly has increased nationally over the past decade.
“What the data shows us is that some specific areas of concern have increased, such as generalized and social anxiety, as well as experiences of trauma,” Hernandez said. “But the increase in concerns is not necessarily the only reason why demand is rising. Rather, mental health awareness has become a bigger part of the cultural conversation.”
Scofield, who also is executive director of the Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH), noted that “more students are feeling comfortable asking for help, and a growing amount of faculty and staff are successfully identifying students with mental health concerns and referring them for services, which is a positive trend.” Details about the latest nationwide collegiate mental health trends can be found in the CCMH’s 2023 annual report.
Initiatives like the Red Folder, which has been well received and integrated into training and orientation for new and current faculty and staff, help those who interact with students learn how to “Recognize, Respond and Refer” students for mental health support. The Red Folder training is available this year on demand for all staff and faculty through the Learning Resource Network. To access the course, log in to the LRN website with your Penn State account and enter “the Red Folder” in the top right search bar.
An important component of the Red Folder and creating a community of care is the concept of “no wrong door” practiced across Penn State, noted Hernandez and Scofield. This allows students to obtain information, support and direction from whomever they may approach. While each office can’t fulfill all needs, staff expect and appreciate the opportunity to help a student wayfind their next step and resource in their student journey.
“The important thing to know is that Penn State cares, and our staff at CAPS are here to support and empower you. Seeking help demonstrates strength and is a sign of self-compassion and care,” Scofield said.
Helping to care and look out for other Penn Staters, including friends, colleagues and peers, also is an important element of what it means to be part of the Penn State community.
“If you sense something amiss, reach out and say something,” Hernandez said. “If you think someone is struggling, check-in with them — verbally whenever possible — and ask how they are, or reach out to a trusted source, like CAPS or the Penn State Crisis Line, for guidance.”
The Penn State Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day for students and those that care about them to help offer support and direction.
Mental health and wellness tips and strategies
Hernandez and Scofield acknowledged that college can be a uniquely stressful time for many students. But an important component to understand is that feeling stress in stressful times, or anxious during uncertain times, is a normal and healthy human response to life, especially life transitions.
“Anxiety is your body’s way of communicating something is wrong that you should pay attention to,” Scofield said. “In new life circumstances, some anxiety is normal, even healthy and helpful. Be patient with yourself as you adjust. The concern is when anxiety exceeds helpful levels — if you’re feeling nervous and upset on a regular basis, or if anxiety is interfering with your ability to effectively lead your life — that you should reach out for help.”
Hernandez and Scofield also shared that taking proper care of your body and overall wellness can help contribute to positive mental health. They advise students to continue to move their bodies regularly, get plenty of sleep, enjoy access to the outdoors, eat well-balanced and healthy meals at regular intervals, and avoid consumption of alcohol and drugs. They also said that in the year ahead, CAPS is excited to share more about how spending time outdoors in nature can be protective and beneficial for overall student wellness.
“Whatever you may be going through or feeling, let yourself experience the feeling and practice compassionate acceptance of yourself,” Hernandez said. “Rather than trying to shut negative feelings down, it’s important to be honest with yourself and the people in your life, especially if you need support. And it’s equally important, for everyone, to keep connected to your important people, to the hobbies and passions that are important to you, and to your own sense of your bigger purpose in the world.”
Mental health and wellness resources
This health and wellness webpage, maintained by Penn State Student Affairs, details the many wellness and mental health resources available to support and empower Penn State students, including:
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Counseling and mental health services available through CAPS, which can be reached at 814-863-0395 for University Park students, or at each Commonwealth Campus location.
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WellTrack Boost, a free app that offers interactive tools for building resilience and managing stress, depression and anxiety with self-help videos, and guidance in determining next steps.
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Life Hacks, step-by-step wellness kits designed to help navigate and demystify some of the more perplexing parts of being human. Instructors can utilize these as pre-packaged extra-credit options for students.
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Drop-in groups focus on peer support and discussion. Stop by at your convenience during the group time. These are not therapy groups, and no appointment is required. Topics include Wellness, Sexual and Gender Diversity, Women of Color Empowerment, Black and Latino Male Empowerment, Interfaith Dialogues, and addiction recovery.
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Health Promotion and Wellness at University Park offers wellness and stress management programing.
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Free wellness sessions on topics including stress, sleep, nutrition, physical activities, healthy relationships and sexual health.
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Campus Recreation programming, including personal and group fitness classes, outdoor recreation, intramural sports and other offerings.
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A full range of medical services, physical therapy, preventive care and immunization services available through University Health Services.
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The Collegiate Recovery Community supports students in recovery from alcohol and other substance use disorders.
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Support for students experiencing food and housing insecurity or struggling with other essential needs, including assistance with groceries and meals, toiletries and household items, housing, rent and utilities, medical bills and health insurance, textbooks, child care and financial emergencies.
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The Red Folder Initiative offers guidance to faculty and staff members on how to identify students who may struggling with their mental health and resources that are available to support them.
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The Penn State Crisis Line (877-229-6400) and the Crisis Text Line (text “LIONS” to 741741), which are open 24/7 to Penn Staters dealing with both crisis and non-crisis situations — including faculty, staff and students at all campuses who have a question about someone else. The licensed professionals with the Penn State Crisis Line can help evaluate each individual situation, offer guidance and help connect callers with further resources if appropriate.
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Penn State University Libraries has a library guide available on Personal Health and Mental Wellness that includes a variety of wellness-related resources.
Additional crisis resources
For those in immediate crisis, services through CAPS are available without a wait. Hernandez and Scofield said a “crisis” can include thoughts of harming oneself or others, loss of housing, a recent death in the family, or any other traumatic event that profoundly and negatively impacts one’s day-to-day life and ability to function.
To connect with a mental health professional in the event of a crisis:
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For immediate or life-threatening emergencies, call 911.
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Call CAPS at 814-863-0395 during regular business hours or connect with the counseling offices available at each of Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses.
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Call the Penn State Crisis Line — a 24/7 toll-free service staffed by licensed professionals available to all Penn State students, and those concerned about a student, at University Park and Commonwealth Campuses — at 877-229-6400.
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Reach out to the 24/7 Crisis Text Line, another 24/7 resource available to all community members, by texting “LIONS” to 741741.
Students facing unforeseen challenges also may connect with the Office of Student Care and Advocacy, which works with students struggling with everything from medical emergencies and hospitalization to food or housing insecurity. Student Care and Advocacy is a centralized source of support for Penn State students experiencing a disruption to their well-being. Using a holistic, developmental approach, Student Care and Advocacy seeks to understand what the student needs and then connect them with the best-fit resources within what is available on their campus and surrounding community. The office strives to foster a collaborative community of care and a shared sense of belonging through a healthy adherence to self and others.
Students at Penn State Commonwealth Campuses also may benefit from services offered by the Student Affairs office at their individual campus.