Welcome and Suicide Prevention

Hello Everyone!

If you’re new to UTD, I’d like to take this moment to formally welcome you to the family! We’re glad to have you. For everyone else, WELCOME BACK!

Let’s start the year off strong with a whole bucket load of knowledge!!

College can be incredibly stressful, especially if this is your first year. Learning to manage that stress is probably one of the most valuable skills you’ll ever have. This study proves that yoga and meditation are actually some of the best ways to combat stress management head-on. One of our officers, Resham Panjabi, actually practices meditation on a regular basis. If you have any questions, she’s definitely the one to ask!

Most people who suffer from mental illnesses are pretty aware of what they’re experiencing. Although self diagnosis isn’t the most certifiable way to know whether or not you have a mental illness (or any illness for that matter,) it can definitely verify that it's time to visit a professional or take steps to help yourself. In this article, the author discusses finding out that her eating disorder remained underlying for around 20 years after being “healed.” If you do feel your stress levels are uncontrollable or something is just generally off with your mood, don't hesitate to visit the counseling center on campus. Their services are completely risk-free and cost-free (hallelujah.)

I want to end this post with a little bit of wisdom: treat this year as a way to put yourself out there and don’t be afraid to try new things. Attending university can be overwhelming so it helps to find something on campus to break away the tension. Most of us try to remain structured and rigid with our schedules because we're so focused on the academic portion of school. This article advises against that by showing that the obsession with keeping balance may be hindering us in the long run. Find your passion on campus through clubs and courses and this school won’t seem so overwhelming. Start the year off with an open mind.

Guess what? September is suicide prevention month! We have a ton of events coming up, but I’d like to start you off with a couple of resources. NIMH has an amazing article here that discusses suicide prevention and warning signs. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, posted a similar article here.

Don’t forget to attend our first general meeting!