Counseling, Wellness Centers at CT State

By: Yesenia Ramos

Being a college student can be very challenging. The pressure to maintain good grades and get involved all while having obligations outside of school might feel frustrating and overwhelming. The constant back and forth layers of stress can mentally and physically exhaust you. And at the end of the day, right before bed, you tell yourself  “It will all be worth it.” But in order to grow as a person and student, you need to prioritize your mental and physical health first. 

The majority of people who say they have little to no time for physical and mental health are college students. The majority of people who neglect their self-care routines are college students. It is crucial to know how to balance priorities in order to thrive and accomplish all your goals. CT State Community College provides wellness centers and services to help with this. 

Physical Fitness and Wellness Centers

Five out of the 12 CT State Campuses have physical fitness and wellness centers. These centers provide state of the art equipment to get your mind and body going! All 5 locations are open Monday through Friday but hours do vary for all locations. 4 out of the 5 locations are free of charge and only require a form provided by your campus to ensure your safety and theirs. As the cherry on top, these wellness centers are not exclusively for students but for faculty and staff too! Not just for students but faculty, staff, lifetime learners, security, cleaning, and cafeteria personnel all have access to these. More information is here.

Locations Include:

• Capital Campus

• Gateway Campus ($25 per semester)

• Housatonic Campus

• Norwalk Campus

• Three Rivers Campus

Mental Health Counseling and Wellness Services

As a current CT State student, you have access to plenty of mental health services no matter what your home campus is. All 12 CT State Campuses have an in-person and online Crisis Response team that utilizes TimelyCare Talk Now as the communication provider along with the number “988” that can be dialed at any time. If you are ever interested in attending in-person counseling services, you are allowed 7 sessions per semester along with access to Telehealth services.

You can also take a screening for your mental health an unlimited amount of times online. If for any reason, you find yourself in need of more support, you can also receive referrals for more immediate or specialized care within your community. Not struggling but you know someone who is? Or maybe interested in learning how to help?

There are also mental health and wellness trainings you can take that include:

• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)

• Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)

• Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR)

You can find further information on the above here.

Overall, seeking these resources on campus can benefit you in many ways. Not only is it great for your personal growth, but it is also great for your growth as a student, peer, and friend. It allows you to enhance your full potential and learning experience. Please share these resources with people you think may need an extra push or hug.