Mental Health Resources

• The Heels Care Network is a gateway for mental health and wellness resources for everyone on campus: to find a support group, learn strategies for mental health, connect with training and advocacy organizations, or find wellness events on campus. The Heels Care Network also includes support resources for community members who are not doing well and are seeking immediate help.

Student Wellness Coaches for School of Medicine students:  https://www.med.unc.edu/wellness/appointments/

• Allison (Alli) Schad, Director of Wellness for UNC School of Medicine and Student Wellness Coach
  • Alli is a licensed social worker and provides one-on-one counseling to PhD students at the School of Medicine.
  • You can schedule an appointment with Alli on the student wellness website.
  • Alli also monitors the wellness of biomedical PhD students and leads Wellness Programming for BBSP students.

• UNC Healthy Heels: https://healthyheels.org/about/recent-links/

  • Healthy Heels provides a variety of useful information to keep healthy created by Campus Health, Student Wellness, Counseling and Psychological Services & Campus Rec. including:
    • Links to helpful articles and campus resources including during COVID-19
    • A blog listing weekly healthy virtual happenings you can join in on with topics such as:
      • Self Care Strategies When the News is Difficult
      • free COVID-19 testing events
      • cardio workouts, mental challenge games, meditation sessions, intramural fantasy football, rocket league, 1 on 1 training sessions, lots of fitness classes, safe biking around UNC
      • global grads, resumes that standout
    • Sign up to follow the blog with your email
      • Twitter 
      • Facebook
      • Instagram

Graduate Student Orientation Site: https://gradschool.unc.edu/events/orientation/#virtualorientation

• The Graduate Student Orientation site has lots of information and resources, along with videos to introduce those to you

Office of the Dean of Students: https://odos.unc.edu/student-support

• The Office of the Dean of Students is committed to providing essential education, programs and services to support students’ academic, personal and professional development.  Our staff works with faculty, staff, and students across campus, as well as with parents, town leaders and community members to reach this goal,

University Ombuds Office:  https://ombuds.unc.edu/

• The University Ombuds Office is a safe place where all Carolina staff, faculty, students and administrators are welcome to come and talk in confidence about any campus issue, problem, or dispute. Our office supplements, but does not replace, the University’s formal channels, such as the grievance policy. Contact us as a first step, or as a last resort, or anywhere along the way. Come and share your concerns, evaluate your situation, and plan your next step—if you want to take a next step. Use of our services is voluntary and free. Visitors will find our office a safe place to discuss their concerns, no matter how large or small.
• Ombuds Brochure

Safe at UNC: https://safe.unc.edu/

• This website is the main portal for students, faculty, staff, and visitors at UNC- Chapel Hill to obtain information about prevention and help regarding issues of discrimination, harassment, sexual assault or sexual violence, interpersonal violence, and stalking.

Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office: https://eoc.unc.edu/

• At Carolina, every member of our campus community is entitled to live, learn, and work in an environment that is inclusive and welcoming. If ever you find that certain events or experiences have unfairly affected your academic or professional success, we’re here to help.

Accessibility Resources and Services (ARS): https://ars.unc.edu/

• Through ARS, The University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill seeks to meet the individual needs of applicants and current students with disabilities and medical conditions by coordinating and implementing appropriate accommodations and providing resources and services as they relate to academics, residences, dining and co and extra-curricular campus activities.
• ARS also functions as a source of information, educational outreach and advice, as well as a communication link among individuals with disabilities, faculty and staff, outside agencies, and the community at large.

Student Wellness: https://studentwellness.unc.edu/

• Student Wellness is a health education and health promotion office whose work is rooted in Public Health science, with a focus on environmental change strategies.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) (Available to permanent UNC employees and their dependents, including postdocs): https://hr.unc.edu/benefits/work-life/eap/

• From financial pressures to workplace stress and family issues, life can be challenging. If you need help, the UNC-Chapel Hill Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available. The EAP is a confidential counseling and resource program that is designed to help University employees and their families deal with both personal and work-related concerns.
• Trained counselors are available by phone 24 hours a days, seven days a week through the University’s EAP offered by ComPsych. You or your family members may call the EAP at anytime. Call ComPsych toll-free 24 hours a day at 877-314-5841.
• You can also visit their online resources at www.guidanceresources.com.
  • At the home page, click “I am a first-time user”
  • At the top of the next page, enter the Organization Web ID TARHEELS and complete the remainder of the boxes with your desired username and password and other requested information
  • On subsequent visits, use the username and password you established on your first visit to access resources

The Toxic Mix During Your PhD:

• The stressors & the strains…what might make management of your mental health more difficult.
  Open pdf
  (Our thanks to Dr. Zoë Ayres, @ZJAyres, who developed and shared this poster.)
• Common stressors discussed on the poster include: imposter syndrome, first time failing, financial concerns, competitive landscape, presennteeism, papers please, tough relationships, isolation/guilt, no more tick boxes, and of acceptance.

Mental Health During Your PhD:

• What you might experience or feel.
  Open pdf
  (Our thanks to Dr. Zoë Ayres, @ZJAyres, who developed and shared this poster.)
• This poster discusses what you may be experiencing/feeling which can include: imposter syndrome, no more tick boxes, first time failing, isolation/guilt, competitive landscape, the work/life struggle.
• It also includes warning signs to be aware of in those around you who may be struggling which include: increased drinking, increased or decreased eating, working long hours, being absent, joking about suicide, and looking disheveled.
• It also includes some ways to manage your mental health and wellbeing such as: seek medical advice, take some time out, focus on you, request counseling, talk to your supervisor, talk to your peers/postdocs, create manageable chunks, and read literature.

Some Mental Health Tips During Your PhD:

• Some ways to help manage your mental health and wellness.
  Open pdf
  (Our thanks to Dr. Zoë Ayres, @ZJAyres, who developed and shared this poster.)
• The poster’s eight tips for how to manage your mental health during Covid-19 include: seek medical help, talk to your supervisor, talk to your peers/postdocs,  focus on you, create manageable chunks, request counseling, read literature.

Shining a Spotlight on Imposter Syndrome:

• What we can do, what our peers can do to support, the role the PI plays, and what universities can do to support.
  Open pdf
  (Our thanks to Dr. Zoë Ayres, @ZJAyres, who developed and shared this poster.)
• This poster discusses imposter syndrome and what we can do about it.  Imposter syndrome is ‘intense feelings of self-doubt’, making a person feel like a fraud These feelings can often reach boiling point during a PhD. Things we can do about it include: how to deal with it on a personal level, peer support, role of the PI and the institituion.

The Perils of a Postdoc:

• A foray into the fact that mental health issues do not stop at the PhD level. The strains and stressors continue into the postdoc environment as well.
  Open poster
  (Our thanks to Dr. Zoë Ayres, @ZJAyres, who developed and shared this poster.)
• Common stressors included on the poster are: compete or perish, family commitments, idea generation, need for independence, position instability, teaching experience, global challenges, altac sell-out, a star is born, burnout or drop out, and don’t get stuck.

Undergraduate Health Awareness:

• With approximately 1 in 4 undergraduates experiencing health concerns, this poster explores some of the stressors students face during their university studies.
  Open poster
  (Our thanks to Dr. Zoë Ayres, @ZJAyres, who developed and shared this poster.)
• Common stressors students experience during their studies can include: financial concerns, away from home, little fish in a big pond, exam stress, grade panic, living with others, fear of missing out, isolation and job prospects.
• it also includes signs that others around you are struglling, which can include: being absent, slipping grades, social withdrawal, disheveled appearance, poor sleep patterns, increased irritability, changes in appetite and increased drinking.
• Among things students can do are: seek medical advice, reach out for help, focus on you, seeing others in distree.
• Among things institutions can do are: signpost resources so students know what help is availble, see students fast, train staff and create links, and manage the transition.

The Institution Edit:

• What can universities do to improve graduate mental health? What are the active steps to make mental health better for PhD students? The narrative that it’s the students’ problem and their problem only is wrong and misleading.
  Open pdf
  (Our thanks to Dr. Zoë Ayres, @ZJAyres, who developed and shared this poster.)
• The poster explores things universities can do to improve graduates’ mental health, which include: train the trainer, tailor support, be accountable, dignity and respect, work/life balance, provide skills, create a community, and reimburse quickly.

PhD Balance: https://phdbalance.com/

• This organization was founded by current Microbiology and Immunology student, Susanna Harris.
• You can be productive in academia, work on and complete a graduate degree, AND struggle with your mental health. Our mission at PhD Balance is to provide honest stories from people like you and curate resources with advice about strategies, yoga, mindfulness, and more.

Carolina Recovery Program: https://studentwellness.unc.edu/programs/alcohol-drug-programs/carolina-recovery-program

• To encourage a community that supports continued recovery, academic excellence, and a commitment to serving the greater UNC community. The Carolina Recovery Program provides each student a customized success plan, staff and peer support, and proactive recovery focused programming. Their goal is to enable students to enjoy a normal substance-free collegiate experience while excelling at UNC-CH. They believe this recovery program experience will reconnect emerging leaders with their passion to make a difference in the world.

Stigma Free Carolina: http://stigmafree.unc.edu/

• Stigma Free Carolina is a UNC community campaign aimed at reducing stigma toward mental health concerns and treatment. By accurately defining mental health, educating the community, and dispelling negative or false beliefs about mental health and its treatment we can help everyone be their best selves and reach their full potential.