In response to heightened anxiety during and after the presidential election, Boston University created resources designed to support students struggling with mental health by focusing on relaxation tactics.
BU Student Health Services collaborated with The Jed Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the emotional health of young adults, to offer both online and in-person mental health resources for students.
According to Diana Cusumano, senior director of higher education programs at The Jed Foundation, the nonprofit was created to help students “navigate the emotional challenges of high school and college.”
Cusumano wrote in an email to The Daily Free Press that the organization has seen an increased demand for mental health resources during election cycles.
“It’s vital to provide ongoing support and encourage open, nonjudgemental conversations about mental health,” she wrote.
To help students during and after the election, the Jed Foundation created online resources through its Mental Health Resource Center, which are included in the University’s Election Stress Toolkit.
The toolkit is a page of resources and stress management tips curated by SHS. The toolkit has a collection of stress management tips, wellness advice from health professionals and information about events and support services.
BU Student Wellbeing held multiple events during election week to help students cope with their stress, including events with coloring books and with BU Police Department’s wellness dog, Bean.
Pedro Falci, managing director of Student Wellbeing, said the goal of the events was to give students an opportunity to relax amidst the stress surrounding the election.
“BU is a rigorous place academically, and obviously now we’re throwing in some big world events on top of it so we’re just trying to make sure students can have what they need to get through it,” Falci said. “We’re hoping to give students a little bit of an opportunity to relax and understand that there’s only so much we can control, but theres healthy ways to cope with our stress.”
Amie Thomas, a second-year graduate student, said the election cycle has been stressful for her. She attended an event that taught students how to control their breathing, and said it was beneficial for her anxieties after voting on Tuesday.
“It has been really stressful and negative watching all the news and the things going on around the world,” Thomas said. “I would catch myself getting anxiety, and a lot of that’s a bodily response. I’ve learned that once you slow down your breathing, you can also stop the anxiety in its tracks.”
Senior Michael Faeges has been working with Student Wellbeing since the summer, and was inspired by BU’s “holistic” approach to wellbeing.
“You can’t be thinking about politics 24/7, you’d go insane,” Faeges said. “Being able to hang out with a dog and just do some small activity is a great way to take your mind off of very real world issues.”
Freshman Sophia Lorenz said she was stressed about the future of women’s rights after the election and attended a post-election pep talk event. Despite her stress, Lorenz said the event was “awesome” and described Student Wellbeing as a “great program.”
“I think it makes people remember that they’re not the only one who’s stressed out about these things,” Lorenz said.
On Nov. 6, there were post-election reflection events at the Howard Thurman Center, the Community Service Center and LGBTQIA+ Student Resource Center.
“For most students, this is probably their first election, and so it’s important to have a space where they can come together in community, and remember that elections are about community,” said Katy Collins, director of the LGBTQIA+ Student Resource Center.
Falci said he hopes to continue providing spaces for students to relax through the Student Wellbeing department.
“We’re here as a reminder, really, and as a department giving students permission to take a break,” Falci said. “That’s just as important as being active as a citizen and also being a committed student.”
