Nursing Student Mental Health Check Up By Holly Carpenter , Amy Hanley , and Sharon Tucker
Most of us keep up with our routine immunizations and preventive care like dental cleanings , school physicals , and annual flu shots . But what type of preventive care do you do for your mental health ? If you or a friend had a mental health crisis , would you know what to do and how to get help ? And would you recognize it as important as a physical health problem ? Or would you feel that experiencing mental health problems and seeking help were stigmatizing ?
Being prepared and knowing what resources are available for your mental health are crucial .
Every day , across the nation , nurses and nursing students experience extraordinary stress that can impact their mental health and well-being ( American Nurses Foundation , 2022 ). It ’ s important to know where you can seek help or direct a friend or colleague to seek help before there is a crisis . If you find yourself or a friend / family member struggling , the earlier you seek help , the better the outcomes . You do not need to wait until a crisis point is reached . There are many resources , including selfhelp and professional strategies . You are not alone . Help is available . Reach out and talk to your primary healthcare provider , mental healthcare provider , or counselor . Also consider one of the options below . There are effective interventions that include counseling / therapy , possibly medications ( shortor long-term ), group support , and many self-care strategies . While seemingly a short-term relief , resist self-medicating with alcohol or recreational drugs as these often cause further harm .
General Mental Health Resources Research what mental health resources your college , university , or school of nursing offer . Your student health or wellness center is a great place to start . They may offer peer support programs , counseling , hotlines , and even therapy . Your healthcare insurance may cover therapy , counseling , medication , substance use disorder treatment , and holistic modalities such as acupuncture . You also may be eligible for mental health options of care via an employer , whether it is yours , your partner ’ s , or your parents ’. Additionally , many houses of worship offer mental health assistance . Moreover , many self-care strategies that include physical activity , quality diet , adequate sleep , mindfulness / meditation , and other techniques such as journaling , music , aroma therapy , and music therapies can be very healing to the mind , body , and spirit .
Additionally , there is a national suicide prevention lifeline called the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline that is available to everyone in the U . S . Individuals can text , chat , or call 988 to connect with a trained counselor to receive support and locate additional resources if appropriate . Please note the disclaimer at the end of this article .
Nurse and Nursing Student Well-Being Resources Being a student can be stressful and brings its own set of challenges . The following set of resources are specifically designed for nurses and nursing students .
• Healthy Nurse , Healthy Nation ( HNHN ) (
www . hnhn . org ) is a free nurse and nursing student wellness program that is available to everyone . Although offered by the American Nurses Association ( ANA ) Enterprise , participants do not need to be ANA members or nurses . It is open to everyone .
Via a virtual platform , text , and social media , HNHN connects and engages individual nurses , nursing students , and partner organizations to act within six domains : physical activity , rest , nutrition , quality of life , safety , and mental health . Friendly competition , content and resources , surveys and data gathering , fun challenges and giveaways , newsletters , and storytelling are all included ( ANA Enterprise , n . d .).
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