Mental Health

College life can be exciting and meaningful, but it can also be stressful, overwhelming and unpredictable. Struggling at times is a normal part of the experience.

Health Promotion helps students build skills to manage life’s challenges, while also working to create supportive spaces and relationships that make it easier to thrive. Whether you’re feeling a little off or dealing with something bigger, support is available—and you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Try These TipsUnderstanding Mental HealthFind Support and Resources

Skills and Practices for Supporting Your Mental Health

Small, everyday practices can help support your mental health over time.

Build Supportive Routines Practice Mindfulness Manage Stress
Build Supportive Routines

Routines can create structure and stability, especially when life feels busy or unpredictable. A routine doesn’t have to be perfect—it just needs to work for you.

Helpful routines might include:

  • Going to bed and waking up around the same time
  • Eating regular meals or snacks and staying hydrated
  • Setting aside short blocks of time for studying, rest or movement
  • Creating a simple morning or nighttime wind‑down routine

Even one consistent habit can help your days feel more manageable.

Mindfulness is about paying attention to what’s happening right now, without judgment. It can help reduce stress, calm racing thoughts and bring your focus back when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Mindfulness doesn’t have to mean long meditation sessions. It can look like:

  • Taking a few slow breaths between classes
  • Noticing your surroundings during a walk
  • Doing a short body scan or grounding exercise
  • Pausing to check in with how you’re feeling

These moments can help reset your nervous system and give your mind a break.

Stress is a normal part of college, but how you respond to it matters. Positive coping strategies can help you release tension and recharge.

Examples include:

  • Moving your body in ways you enjoy
  • Spending time with people who make you feel supported
  • Taking breaks from screens or social media
  • Doing something creative or relaxing
  • Asking for help when you need it

There’s no single “right” way to cope—what matters is finding strategies that work for you.

Understanding Mental Health

Mental health is something everyone has and something you can take care of, just like your physical health. It includes how you’re feeling emotionally, how you handle stress, how you relate to others and how you cope when things get hard. Mental health can change over time, especially during big life transitions.

Taking care of your mental health doesn’t mean something is “wrong.” It means you’re paying attention to what you need.

Why College Can Affect Mental Health

College is a time of growth, change and new experiences. It’s common for mental health to be affected by things like:

  • Adjusting to a new environment, schedule or level of independence
  • Academic pressure, deadlines and high expectations
  • Changes in relationships or feeling disconnected from familiar support
  • Exploring identity, values and future goals
  • Financial stress, work/school balance or uncertainty about what comes next

Feeling stressed, anxious lonely or overwhelmed at times doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means you’re human.

When Is It Time to Seek Mental Health Support?

It’s okay to ask for help, even if you’re not sure you “need” it. If you feel as though your struggles are impacting your ability to live your life in a way that feels good and meaningful to you, it may be time to reach out for general support.

Common Experiences Students Face

Many students experience similar challenges, even if it doesn’t always look that way.

  • Stress and burnout: Feeling overwhelmed, exhausted or constantly behind can be signs of burnout—especially during busy points in the semester.
  • Anxiety: Worry, racing thoughts or feeling on edge can show up around academics, social situations or uncertainty about the future.
  • Loneliness and homesickness: Missing home, struggling to make connections or feeling out of place is common—especially during your first year or after a big change.

Learn more:

Workshops to help you through it

Feeling stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed? Counseling & Psychiatric Services workshops offer practical, easy‑to‑use tools to manage anxiety, cope with strong emotions and build habits that support your well‑being.

Build Skills

Health Promotion offers peer‑led programs, trainings and presentations that help students care for their mental health and support others.

Peer Wellness Coaching

Peer Wellness Coaching offers one‑on‑one conversations with trained student coaches. Coaching focuses on goals like improving stress management, time management, work/life balance, sleep, study habits and more. It’s a supportive, judgment‑free space to talk things through and try new strategies.

Mental Health Trainings & Presentations

Interactive trainings and presentations help students learn practical skills for everyday life. Topics include, but are not limited to, stress management and self-care, suicide prevention, supporting others in distress and much more.

Trainings are also available for employees who wish to learn new skills to better support students and the CU community.

Find Support on Campus

Support comes in many forms. Whether you want to talk with someone, learn new skills or connect with community, there are options available.

  • Peer Wellness Coaching (PWC): One‑on‑one support with trained student coaches
  • Stress Less events: Drop‑in events for students focused on relaxation, connection and stress relief
  • Workshops and Presentations: Interactive sessions on topics like navigating stress and anxiety, self-care and more
  • Trainings: Skill‑based trainings, such as Mental Health First Aid, that help students learn how to support their mental health and look out for themselves and others
  • Counseling & Psychiatric Services (CAPS): Professional counseling, therapy and mental health care on campus
  • Office of Victim Assistance (OVA): Confidential support for students who’ve experienced or witnessed something traumatic or disruptive, recently or in the past

You don’t have to figure this out alone. Support is available, and reaching out is a strong first step.