Stress Management

Formal programs are not needed to help a colleague or student practice wellness techniques to improve one’s own mental health. Here are some ways to do that.

Recognizing life stressors: Stressors occur in all facets of life, not just work. As the number of stressors increase, Evans says, the potential for mental health struggles increases too. Certain times in academia cause higher stress levels, including exams, residency interviews and matching, grant cycle deadlines and tenure review. Add in a car accident, family death or other personal stressor, and peers or mentors should have a heightened concern for that individual, with additional support. “We know that stress is cumulative, and it can be exponential,” Evans says.

Giving permission for self-care: McClure asks her students questions about self-care, such as how much they’re sleeping, if they’re connected to peers and whether they’re eating. “I think my role sometimes as a professor is to give them permission,” she says. She’s even taught students how to boil eggs so they have healthful snacks to eat when they’re on the run.