These times can be scary and stressful. This page is a collection of tips and activities you can actively do to prioritize your mental health.

Here are three proactive steps you can do right now:

Create a plan

To prepare for returning back on campus, watch the video below and fill out your own Mental Well-Being Preparedenss Plan! Click this step to view and fill-out the plan. For an ADA accessable version, email tucpsc@utulsa.edu.

 

 

F.A.C.E. C.O.V.I.D.

Dr. Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap, created a set of steps to effectively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. These are explained in the video below and are based upon acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), a popular and empirically-supported model. Click this step to check out the full article.

 

Rate your self-care

Take some time to examine your self-care needs. There are many different areas that we need to fulfill to contribute to our overall well-being. Click on this step to access the Self Care Rating Scale.

 

 

Self-Care Rating Scale

Additional Tips

Tips for Coping with Stress During COVID-19

Keep Yourself Healthy

  • Avoid excessive alcohol and caffeine
  • Eat healthy foods and drink water and get plenty of sleep
  • Find reliable information sources
  • Take a break from the news to focus on things you can control
  • Get physical exercise
  • Relax by doing things that work for you: stretching, deep breathing, meditating, engaging in hobbies
  • Talk about your feelings to family, friends, or mental health professionals often
  • Try and do something fun between stressful activities

Know the Signs of Stress

  • Physical (e.g.: stomachaches, headaches, muscle twitches)
  • Behavioral (e.g.: change in energy, excessive worrying, difficulty concentrating)
  • Emotional (e.g.: anxious, guilty, overwhelmed with sadness)
  • Thoughts (e.g.: feeling confused, difficulty making decisions)
Information obtained from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Check out this article on other helpful tips for taking care of your mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Tips for Self-Isolating During COVID-19

 

Before Isolating

  • Get all the information! It can help to know now exactly why you are being isolated and for how long
  • Ensure you have enough resources and supplies

During Isolation

  • Balance watching the news and getting information with self-care activities
  • Follow a daily routine and keep a healthy lifestyle
  • Connect with others virtually
  • Keep things in perspective, journaling about your thoughts or mindfulness apps can help

After Isolation

  • Remind yourself that it is normal to feel mixed emotions including relief and worry
  • Contact a mental health professional if you notice any signs of extreme stress, such as trouble sleeping, not carrying out your daily routines, or increases in drug/alcohol use
Information obtained from the American Psychological Association and the Center for Disease Control

 

Click here for COVID-19 specific information about distance learning, news, financial support, and frequently asked questions.