Mental Health Matters: Issue #2
Prioritizing your mental well being in difficult times
This week we are publishing a second issue on mental health, with our first issue released in February 2020. In these difficult times for all of us, we believe that it’s especially important to know that it is okay to reach out for help and support – whether to a trusted family member, good friend, or a health professional. The three pieces we share this week underline the importance of creating a support network and cultivating a sense of empathy for everyone around us. We would like to remind our fellow graduate students to not hesitate to make use of the plentiful resources the MIT community has to offer, and remember to be kind to yourself and others in these trying times.
Without further ado, please read on to the three wonderful blog posts in this special issue:
1. Ask and you shall receive (by Tatiana N.)
2. You mean, it’s not unhealthy? (by Matthew A.)
3. Holidazed and Confused (Anonymous)
We were touched by the poignancy and authenticity of these authors, and we hope you will be too!
Below you may find the resources for support on campus available to MIT graduate students, which the authors of the posts as well as many others have found helpful.
MIT Mental Health & Counseling
Best route to contact them is to call.
During business hours: (617)-253-2916
After hours: (617)-253-4481
Learn more at the MIT Medical webpage
Note: Starting in September 2020, MIT will be increasing mental health coverage and access for students in some major ways. The increase in the number of covered sessions will go from 12 fully covered sessions each year with $25 copay starting on the 13th up to 52 covered sessions with $5 copay starting on the 53rd.
Office of Graduate Education, GradSupport
Best route to contact them is to email.
To schedule appointments, please email gradsupport@mit.edu or call (617) 253-4860.
Learn more at the GradSupport webpage
iREFS
A graduate student group that provides peer support for all graduate students across the Institute.
Best route to contact them is to email them.
The iREFS will immediately take you out to coffee for a confidential conversation (or refer you to departmental REFS if your department has them).
iREFS can be accessed via irefs-contact@mit.edu or email refs@mit.edu to get connected with your department’s dREF.
And here are federal US resources for off-campus support (we also encourage you to check the mental health resources in your area):
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255) or Live Online Chat
SAMHSA’s (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services) National Helpline
1-800-662-HELP (4357)
If you have feedback about this issue, you can contact us at gradblogeditors@mit.edu. Take care!
Yours,
MIT Grad Blog Editors
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