This month has been hard. I feel like I am treading water in dangerous seas as I try to balance school, work, my family and the state of the world. I want to be well-informed so I can understand why the Israel-Palestine conflict is so complex and so divisive. I want to do well in my classes because it is senior year and I need to finish strong for my law school applications. I write weekly for the paper because I love writing but the topics can become too heavy to carry sometimes. My son is two, growing like a weed, but I worry constantly about the world he will inherit and if I am a good enough parent for him. The world is stressful and it sometimes feels like everyone is just waiting for you to fail. I know I am not the only one who is feeling the weight of the world right now. The world is harsh right now—in the pursuit of knowledge, of justice, it is necessary to take care of ourselves first. For those of us who have flown, we have received the in-flight safety brief. In case of emergency, oxygen masks will be deployed in the cabin. Please put your own mask over your face before assisting others. Corny but necessary. If you are not taking care of yourself, then how can you take care of others? Below is a list of resources, both on campus and off, local, state and national resources. Take care of yourself, because not only does the world deserve you at your best, but you deserve to feel your best.
- Vassar College Counseling Services (VCCS)
- Counseling Services offers a variety of resources, including Individual and Couples Counseling, Crisis Intervention, Walk-in Clinic, Group Counseling, Workshops , Outreach, Biofeedback, Consultation and Referral Assistance.
To schedule an appointment with a counselor, call VCCS at (845) 437-5700 on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Appointments are available to currently enrolled students and are generally scheduled within a few days of the request. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency or crisis, VCCS provides the following guidance: “A mental health emergency is a life-threatening situation in which an individual is in imminent danger of harming oneself or others, severely disoriented, out of touch with reality, is unable to function, severely distraught, or out of control.” In those cases it is recommended students call the Vassar College Campus Response Center (CRC) emergency number: (845) 437-7333 and/or local emergency services at 911.
- Mental Health America of Dutchess County
- Contact Info: 845-473-2500, 253 Mansion St, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, info@mhadutchess.org
- Mental Health America of Dutchess County provides multiple services including a mobile crisis team, depression screenings and individual support programs, among others. This program provides resources to anyone living in Dutchess County, regardless of income, and believes in support without stigma.
- The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is one of the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organizations dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
- The NAMI helpline is a free hotline for anyone in crisis to use 24/7 if in crisis.
- Mental Health First Aid
- This organization is a national council for mental health that has compiled a database of resources for people to access in times of need.
Mental health is no joke. Do not let something happen to you because you believe that you are strong enough to bear the burden alone. You are important on this campus, in this community. You, not the course work, not the grades, not the projects or the movements. You matter. There is privilege in being able to step back from the edge but that does not mean it is a privilege that should be ignored. Accept the hand up and maybe one day you will be in a place to pass on the love.