As college students transition back to school this fall semester, it’s fitting to zero in on student health. Navigating this time can be challenging for students as they figure out their new classes and learn how to manage their hectic schedules.
At Wellfleet, helping students live their healthiest, most empowered lives is at the core of our mission. By focusing on these five measures across campus, students can start the year off as healthy as possible.
Read on to learn five tips from the Wellfleet Clinical team on starting the year off right.
1. Prioritize mental health
The first key to starting the semester on the right foot is prioritizing mental health. Each student has unique needs, so this will look different for everyone. The important piece is being proactive about mental health and keeping it at the forefront before the stresses of the semester ensue.
A few ways students can prioritize mental health include:
- Regularly visit with a counselor
- Keep following prescribed treatments for diagnosed mental health conditions
- Connect with a mentor within their field of study
- Make time for their interests and passions
- Get involved with social groups on campus
- Know their options for getting help if they need it
If your campus has a counseling center for students, educate students across campus to ensure they are aware of this service. The counseling center is often a great first step for students who are feeling overwhelmed and need additional support.
If your campus has a Wellfleet Student Health Insurance Plan, our student app can provide several behavioral health resources, including SilverCloud®, CareConnect, and telehealth visits with mental health providers.
2. Stay connected
The beginning of the semester can be overwhelming for some students. Getting back into the rhythm of classes and exams can be a challenge. That’s why maintaining connections can be vital to helping students make a smooth transition. Isolation can increase feelings of loneliness and make it more difficult for students to cope when things get tough.
Students should be encouraged to maintain close ties with their peers on campus and stay connected with family and friends back home. It’s important for them to foster relationships that provide camaraderie, support, and a listening ear.
A few ways students can stay connected include:
- Getting involved in peer groups, clubs, and social events on campus
- Connecting with friends on campus daily
- Regularly calling family and other loved ones back home
- Getting to know other students in their field of study
- Having supportive professors who encourage students to come to them with questions
3. Get plenty of sleep
Another proactive measure students can take at the beginning of the semester is to get enough rest. Sleep deprivation can negatively impact the body in many ways, including:1
- Lowered immune function, so higher likelihood of getting sick
- Higher blood pressure
- Higher risk for obesity
- Increased risk for depression, anxiety, and forgetfulness1
Encourage students to get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night.2 Foster a campus culture where students value sleep and know how to pace their coursework to avoid cramming the night before an exam or due date. Getting enough sleep will help students optimize their health and set them up for more success in their coursework.
4. Be aware of COVID-19
As students congregate now that they’re back in school, it’s important to remember that COVID-19 and other infectious bacteria and viruses are still present. As students gather in large groups, make sure they are aware of adequate precautions to prevent outbreaks.
Educate students on symptoms to look out for. Encourage the use of masks, hand sanitizer, and proper handwashing techniques. Provide remote learning options for sick students. Equip your student health center with testing and treatment if a student gets infected.
For more information on COVID-19, visit the CDC.
5. Get outside daily
One of the best ways to improve mental well-being is to spend time outside every day. Not only does being outdoors help reduce stress and anxiety, but it also improves focus by relaxing our minds.3 In addition, being outdoors is great for physical well-being because being outside is often correlated with beneficial physical activity.3
A few ways you can encourage students to spend time outside daily, especially during the nice fall weather, include:
- Creating a variety of comfortable outdoor study, dining, and relaxation spaces throughout campus
- Organizing outdoor challenges with students, where they get rewarded for completing outdoor activities
- Encouraging walking on campus via well-maintained walking paths between buildings
- Organizing outdoor intramural and club events, such as sand volleyball, soccer, or pickup basketball
- Creating an outdoor classroom where professors can host classes during nice weather
- Promoting a bike-friendly campus by offering bike racks in front of all buildings
Learn more about Wellfleet Student Health Insurance Plans
At Wellfleet, we’re dedicated to improving the health of our student members. We work hard to help ensure our members are satisfied with the quality and cost of care they receive.
Connect with our team to learn more about how Wellfleet goes the extra mile when building student health insurance plans.
References
1 John’s Hopkins Medicine. The Effects of Sleep Deprivation. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-effects-of-sleep-deprivation.
2 NIH. (2022, March 24). How Much Sleep Is Enough? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep/how-much-sleep#:~:text=Experts%20recommend%20that%20adults%20sleep,or%20more%20hours%20a%20night.
3 UC Davis Health. (2023, May 3). 3 ways getting outside into nature helps improve your health. https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/cultivating-health/3-ways-getting-outside-into-nature-helps-improve-your-health/2023/05.
Wellfleet, Wellfleet Student, Wellfleet Special Risk, and Wellfleet Workplace are marketing names used to refer to the insurance and administrative operations of Wellfleet Insurance Company, Wellfleet New York Insurance Company, and Wellfleet Group, LLC (known in California only as Wellfleet Group, LLC dba Wellfleet Administrators, LLC). All insurance products are administered or managed by Wellfleet Group, LLC. Product availability is based upon business and/or regulatory approval and may differ among states.
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