As students travel home for Thanksgiving and the subsequent winter break, they will face a new set of challenges with the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.
(Contributed/ ETSU)
Kate Emmerich, a senior counselor and OASIS Coordinator with the ETSU Counseling Center, said typical issues students face when they return home are differences in perspectives or tension between family members. She said these issues can heighten around the holidays due to the pressure the American culture puts on it.
Another issue is students who do not have family to visit, such as international students who cannot make the trip home for the winter break.
Emmerich said the COVID-19 pandemic now adds even more potential barriers for families getting back together.
“People might get more isolated than usual and not have the typical experience of gathering inside together,” Emmerich said. “That combined with the colder weather and the days getting shorter can lend itself to more experiences of isolation and depression.”
The Counseling Center offers various resources and services for ETSU students to use throughout the holiday season and winter break. Though the university closes for Thanksgiving and during winter break, BucsPress2, the ETSU Counseling Center’s 24/7 mental health helpline, will still be available to registered students. The helpline is available 365 days a year.
“So just know that there is always someone that you can talk to and always an access point,” said Emmerich. “Even when we’re on breaks.”
Another service, Let’s Talk, allows students to have a consultation with senior staff or interns and get a feel for what counseling might be like. Sessions usually last between 20 minutes and an hour. There is no paperwork or prior commitment required.
Fifty-minute single sessions are available for students who do not require on-going support. This can then lead to on-going counseling sessions for students who need them.
“I would really encourage students to check out our website for information about general wellness and how to stay healthy and stay connected and find creative activities during a time where we have to think outside the box,” said Emmerich.
For more information visit https://www.etsu.edu/students/counseling/
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