Being a college student, honestly, can be really stressful – in lots of different ways.
Taking care of your mental health and overall wellbeing (and taking care of each other) is vital when you’re in college. PLU is all about having your back, making sure you have the support you need, and fostering a community of care. When it comes to your mental, emotional and physical wellbeing, we’re all in this together.
The following list doesn’t covereverythingwe have on campus to help you navigate the ups and downs of college life, but it does give you some great starting points to make sure you’re taking care of yourself and your fellow students in the best ways possible.
1. Get involved
Being part of caring communities has many mental health benefits. PLU has A LOT of active clubs (more than 50!) where you can build your communities, connect with an affinity group, explore interests and talents, and develop your leadership skills.
Two student-led clubs with a specific focus on mental wellbeing are theStudent Neurodiversity Club and NAMI on Campus. The Student Neurodiversity Club provides a supportive community on campus for neurodivergent individuals, offering a space to share their college and life experiences and discuss the challenges and triumphs that come with diverse disabilities. NAMI is a national organization with the goal of raising awareness on mental health and breaking the stigma, with a chapter on the PLU campus.
2. Stay active
Engaging in physical activity enhances your mental wellbeing by diminishing anxiety, depression, and negative mood, while simultaneously boosting self-esteem and cognitive function.
Our Names Fitness Center offers cardio and exercise, intramural sports, and physical education classes are offered.
Love being outside? Outdoor Rec is PLU’s wilderness adventure club (think hiking, camping, kayaking, climbing, etc.). They lead trips pretty much every weekend around the Pacific Northwest, rent gear out to the PLU community, and provide the re
3. Nourish your body
Feeling physically healthy has a huge role in feeling mentally healthy, and you probably already know that a diet with diverse foods will help you in feeling your physical best. PLU’s campus cafes and market offer nutritionally sound (and yum) food options to help you fuel your body and mind. Our campus restaurants also make sure to accommodate any dietary restrictions you might have. Vegan, vegetarian, non-dairy? They got you covered!
Another great rees (see #4 to learn more about WSR). Nationally, between 23-40% of college students experience food insecurity, and the PLU Pantry’s mission is to be “a reood insecurity in any way.”
