As winter approaches, many students find themselves struggling with their mental or physical health. Students can turn to University Health Services for any help that they need during finals week and over winter break.
Health education specialist Chloe Belt said that during this time of year, she sees a lot of students struggling because of academics, family and financial issues, as well as other forms of interpersonal issues.
“We see a mix of academic fatigue and life-transition stress,” Belt said. “By the end of the semester, many students are running on very little sleep, which can weaken the immune system and make winter illnesses (like colds and upper respiratory infections) more common.”
Belt also said that, in general, winter can worsen symptoms such as low mood, anxiety, or disrupted sleep.
Belt explained that the challenges students face can vary depending on whether they remain on campus during break or return home. “It’s also important to note that not every student leaves campus for break. Some stay local, some commute from home year-round, and others may not have a stable home to return to. Each group can face its own challenges,” she said. “For some, heading home can mean shifting back into family routines; for others, staying in the same environment with less structure can feel isolating and stressful.”
These issues are very common, and in order to remedy them on your own, Belt recommends taking time to plan out your break and structure your free time. Spending ample time in the sun to get your vitamin D levels up, ensuring that you’re eating and sleeping enough and doing mental check-ins with yourself are also ways to stay as healthy as possible this winter.
Students can go to the Health and Wellness webpage to schedule drop-in appointments with KORU Mindfulness which provides guided meditation sessions and the Counseling Center webpage connect with peers using Togetherall.
The UHS is open for its regular hours during finals week. Students who require medical care have access to mental health support and counseling, same-day appointments when available, telehealth appointments and wellness referrals from 8:30-5:00 Monday through Friday. Students can also call the 24/7 medical line at 617-287-5660 to reach a nurse after hours and can call the 24/7 Crisis Line at 855-634-4135 to be connected with a counselor.
During the winter break, the Counseling Center as well as general medicine stay open to students on and off campus. Services are closed Dec. 25 and Dec. 30 to Jan. 1, and only telehealth appointments are available from Dec. 26 to Dec. 29. Otherwise, the UHS will operate during its regular working hours.
Students who are looking for UHS updates, health resources and wellness information can follow @UMBWellness on Instagram or go to the University Health Services web page.