Mental Health Guidance for Midterms

Story and graphic by: Breanna Prince

As students begin to prepare for midterms, it’s important to keep your mental health under control. 

College is a place where we learn that stress is a part of life. This is where we learn what it takes to manage our stress, and how we cope with it during stressful situations. 

Brooke Gledhill, senior, majoring in Outdoor & Environmental Education said when it comes to preparing for her midterms, she spaces them out to keep some down time in between. 

“Something that usually helps to calm me down is praying, journaling, and listening to worship music,” she said. “Those things help ground me, help lower my anxiety and help me not make as big of a deal out of things when sometimes it feels like it should be.” 

Michael Manson, sophomore, majoring in Music Education, goes for walks, stays in contact with friends, and plays video games to help de-stress and take his mind off studying 24/7. 

“Something that helps with midterm stress is staying connected,” he said. “I do study sessions with friends because it can be very isolating when you’re alone in your room all the time, so go out, like going to Ponder and getting a coffee, and having a quick study session, and remembering that midterms ends at some point, and things balance out, just keeping that end goal in mind really helps me.” 

Jesse Afraid of Hawk, junior, majoring in Art History, said when it comes to making sure her mental health is under control she goes to the gym, finds herself a sweet treat, and listens to podcasts. 

“It gets my mind out of the pressure of doing midterms,” she said. 

When it comes to going to the counseling center, it’s good for students to talk one-on-one with someone about how they are feeling. 

“Whenever I get done with therapy or talking to someone about it, I feel that weight completely gone and that’s what I think people are trying to find, is that that weight to be gone, so they can continue to live their life,” she said. 

Associate Director of CMU Counseling Center, Kristie Miner, said when it comes to students studying midterms, it’s important to take care of their basic needs like sleep, eating a healthy diet, getting enough exercise, and maintaining strong management skills. 

“Some students enjoy studying in groups while others need to be alone,” she said. “Do what is best for you and don’t be afraid to do something different from your peers if needed. Communicate with your professors when you need support or have questions.” 

The counseling center offers psychological, emotional, and social well-being. It’s important to remember that everyone feels stress. It’s a natural response to challenging situations. 

Midterms can be stressful, but remember, you’re not alone. Central Michigan University offers a variety of free resources to help students manage their mental health during this challenging time.

Foust Hall Medical Clinic – Making sure that your well-being is under control is very important. The Foust Hall Medical Clinic is open to all CMU students. They are open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They offer physical examinations, immunizations, lab testing, and much more.  

CMU Counseling Center – All CMU students are offered free and confidential counseling sessions. The counselors on campus are here for your journey. Don’t be afraid to talk to someone. The counselors will always be here for when you need help.  

Counseling Center Drop-In Activities – Therapy dogs are presented the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month. The counseling center also offers drop-in activities, such as open-door art. 

Student Activity Center (SAC) – Open to all CMU students. The student activity center is a fun place to get your mind off things. Here, you can do many activities, such as working out, playing basketball, ping pong, swimming, hot tubing, and much more. 

Tutoring Services – CMU offers free tutoring services for all majors. Looking for extra help to prepare you for your exams? Don’t be afraid to reach out.   

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, please don’t hesitate to reach out to CMU counseling services or check out other resources below:  

CMU Counseling Center

24/7 Crisis Hotlines 

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 

Listening Ear – Isabella County: 989-772-2918 

SAPA: 989-774-2255 

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