Many resources available to help learn about, manage anxiety

SupportLinc’s monthly feature for September is titled “Keeping Calm and Carrying On,” which focuses specifically on anxiety.

The American Psychological Association defines anxiety as an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure. Mental Health America (MHA) offers an anxiety screening tool called the GAD-7, which is a validated screening tool and symptom severity measure focusing on the four most common anxiety disorders.  

There are many tools and resources available to help individuals learn more about anxiety and how to manage it so they can help themselves and/or others. MHA’s “Anxiety Information & Support” webpage includes details on understanding anxiety, living with anxiety, anxiety treatment and recovery, anxiety, and other mental health topics and articles on anxiety.

SupportLinc, provider of behavioral health services to Purdue’s West Lafayette campus, provides online resources including articles, videos and more on anxiety. They include:

• Anxiety and Your Health (video)
• Childhood Anxiety on the Rise (video)
• Deep Breathing (relaxation exercise)
• Generalized Anxiety (article)
• High Anxiety (article)
• Tips for Coping with Anxiety (article)
• Teens and Anxiety (video)  

The APA’s podcast, “Speaking of Psychology,” offers episodes dedicated to anxiety, such as:

• What is anxiety and how can we treat it effectively?
• Anxiety and Teen Girls

CalmClinic’s anxiety guide is a compilation of more than 400 pages on anxiety, which includes symptoms, types, causes, help strategies, treatments and more. 

ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES TO ASSIST FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS

To assist faculty and staff

Faculty and staff can review the “Mental Health Resources” webpage for a variety of available resources, which support the behavioral health pillar of the Healthy Boiler Program, and information on Purdue’s health plan coverage for mental health and substance abuse. 

To assist students

Faculty and staff who work with students or have a student at home can direct them to the resources below for behavioral health assistance. Note: United Healthcare Student Resources (UHCSR) — medical plan provider for students and graduate students — offers 292 unique mental health providers serving at various locations that are in-network with UHCSR within Tippecanoe County. The list is available here. Additionally, students have access to HealthiestYou, which provides virtual access to mental health care as part of UHCSR’s plan. All services are free for students covered under the UHCSR insurance plan.  

Office of the Dean of Students

• Continuous Network of Support
• Services and Information
• Presentations & Trainings
• Student of Concern Reporting Link

Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)

• Therapy Services at CAPS
• Self-help Resources
• Group Therapy
• CAPS YouTube channel
• NAMI On Campus – A free, virtual campus support group.
• Thriving Campus – Service that provides students a way to search for mental health providers locally and across the country.
• WellTrack – Interactive, self-help therapy app for students.