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EKU Counseling Center
521 Lancaster Avenue
CPO 52, Whitlock Building Room #571
Richmond, KY, 40475-3152
Phone: (859) 622-1303

EKUCC Pandemic Services & Coping During COVID-19

EKUCC will be providing virtual counseling services to EKU students. In-person sessions are also available. For more information, call 859-622-1303. Fall and Spring semester office hours: Mon-Fri 8:00am-4:30pm. See EVENTS for other services available including our virtual Feel Better Fast workshops!

To get started with services, click this link

Novel Coronavirus: EKU's response, FAQs, and prevention information

Kentucky's Response to COVID-19

Mental Health Resources for Coping During COVID-19

Resources at EKU

Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)-for updated information about EKU's COVID-19 protocols, vaccination clinics, and other local resources. See https://staywell.eku.edu

Noel Studio- The Noel Studio for Academic Creativity is a multiliteracy center offering integrated support for writing, speaking, research, and multimodal communication. We help students develop effective communication skills by promoting critical and creative thinking through peer-to-peer meetings called consultations, as well as by providing technology, spaces, and resources, with or without a consultation. https://studio.eku.edu/

Student Success Center- the Student Success Center is designed to serve as a one-stop-shop where students can get assistance with an array of areas like course work, financial aid, study skills, choosing a major, course registration, stress management, and much more. Make an appointment for tutoring, mentoring, or academic coaching. https://successcenter.eku.edu/

Center for Student Accessibility- The Center for Student Accessibility collaborates with you, your medical or mental health professional, faculty, staff, and the EKU campus at large. This team approach is used to ensure you receive the reasonable accommodations you are entitled to under the Americans with Disabilities Act. https://accessibility.eku.edu/

IT Department-EKU IT provides a collection of technology resources that provide everything from email to resources to help with multimedia projects, coursework, and to enhance all your learning. https://it.eku.edu/itservicesstudents

Mental Health Resources

Feel Better Fast! Resources and more from our EKUCC Feel Better Fast! workshops to help you enjoy your time away from campus. FBF workshops are also offered 5 days a week as virtual, drop-in workshops. See EVENTS for date, time, and topic!

Mental Health Care Package-Coping with COVID-19 The University of Michigan Counseling & Psychological Services suggests 8 different ways you can take care of yourselves during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19: Manage Anxiety & Stress The Center For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for stress and coping

Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health: Tips for Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation During an Infectious Disease Outbreak Recommendations from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Keeping Your Distance to Stay Safe Information and recommendations from the American Psychological Association

What To Do If the Coronavirus Health Guidelines Are Triggering Your Anxiety or OCD Elizabeth Mcingvale, PhD, LMSW founder of the Peace of Mind Foundation which is dediacted to providing resources and support to those impacted by obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

How to show compassion and support to others who have tested positive

The Eight Pillars of Wellness

Sleep
Did you know that the brain can be “primed” to learn new information? How much sleep would you guess is needed to accomplish this? 6? 8? The answer is actually 9 hours of sleep.

The reason for this is due to what happens in the brain during the crucial window of time between 7.5-9 hours of sleep. During this period of sleep, the brain significantly increases REM sleep, which allows for consolidation and organization of newly learned material. This in turn prepares the brain for further learning the following day.

Quick Fun Facts About Sleep
Pulling an all-nighter actually reduces learning capacity by up to 40%. While it might feel productive, the trade-off is severe. Likewise, very little information from cramming goes on to be added into long-term memory.

Sleep is believed to contribute to feelings of loneliness. Research has shown that individuals that are sleep deprived shun social connections with others.

Learn more about how to manage sleep effectively here:

Sleep Hygiene
More Quick Facts and a Detailed Podcast from a leading sleep expert

Exercise
When medically possible, exercise has been shown to promote good brain growth and development. Aerobic exercise has also been found to release a chemical in the brain that helps promote learning! As a learning pro-tip, if you know you have a long day of studying ahead, do some moderately intense exercise for at least 30 minutes prior to studying. Doing so will help your brain bridge connections between what you know and the new materials you’re studying.

Exercise can be as simple as going for an extended walk during the day, or as intense as a full athletic practice. We don’t need access to fancy equipment to use this skill, just time and motivation.

Check out some free workouts at the EKU Rec Center Youtube Page and learn more about EKU Campus Rec here

Eating

For optimal processing, the brain requires good food and water. While it is easier to grab fast/processed food on the go, make an effort to seek out healthy food options as a means of giving your body the right types of fuels. Be careful about over and under-eating, as both can lead to negative side-effects to mood, physical functioning, and energy.

Check out some resources on Healthy Eating and Body Image

If you are struggling with Body Image concerns, also consider our Start From Now Group, and take a look at our EKU Counseling Center group page

Relationships
Our connections with others support a vibrant and plastic brain. Take time to foster important relationships, or actively work on forming new ones. Seek out hobbies that you can safely engage in, and reach out to others in your life with a phone call or letter.

Netflix Teleparty-Schedule time to call/text/play video games with friends
Play a virtual game together with friends
Send a handwritten letter to someone you love

Novelty
Novelty is a fantastic tool to help get ourselves out of a rut. When we expose our brain to new stimuli, when we are playful and spontaneous, we keep the brain growing and young. Take time to find new activities of interest, or opportunities to learn more about what you already love to enhance this skill.

This Pillar is highly based on individual preference.

Look for online communities that share topics or hobbies or interest
Take a look at EKU’s Registered Student Groups
Check out a TED Talk on a subject of interest or something you want to learn more about

Mastering Attention
The act of closely paying attention, when we avoid multi-tasking and distractions and care about what we are focusing on, we can actually stimulate the release of chemicals locally and widely throughout the brain that help with ongoing growth and development.

Limit multi-tasking when possible, and try to focus on one project at a time
Set your phone to “Do Not Disturb” when working on projects/assignments
Consider apps/browser extensions that help keep you accountable for staying on task

Time-In
When we set aside time to focus on our inner sensations, images, feelings, and thoughts, reflecting inwardly, we encourage the growth of regulatory, integrative connections throughout the brain. See our mindfulness based resources at the counseling center to learn more about this skill.

Check out our weekly Mindfulness workshops and look for our upcoming meditation and mindfulness events
Download an app (Like Headspace or Insight Timer) to help make mindfulness a daily habit
Take at least 10 minutes each day to fully engage with something pleasant
Learn about Hygge: “taking pleasure in the presence of gentle, soothing things”, and incorporate it into daily life

Humor
While this tool is the least researched so far, preliminary studies suggest that when we laugh we promote the healthy growth of the brain.