Nigel Cares: App helps students with self-care
By Dr. Simon Cordery, director of Student Counseling
People tend to think health and happiness "just happen," fall from the sky, or are a matter of "good" or "bad" luck. The truth is that positive mental health is the result of an investment and practice in a collection of learned skills.
We have to learn how to manage our emotions, reduce our stress, and work toward positivity and happiness. Just like working out for our physical benefit, mental health and happiness are the results of these efforts, not the precursors.
In support of the Nigel Cares student mental health initiative, 91ÁÔÆæ has made Headspace accounts available to all 91ÁÔÆæ students for free. Headspace typically costs $12 per month.
Wouldn't it be great to take a few moments for yourself, catch your breath, and relax your mind? Wouldn't you like to get your anxiety under control? How about connecting with positive thoughts and feelings and disconnecting from negative thoughts and feelings? Instead of feeling stuck in your emotions, wouldn't you like to learn how to soothe and comfort yourself? What about putting your mind to bed at night and waking up feeling refreshed? The Headspace App can help you manage your feelings and thoughts using mindfulness.
As one current user of the app said, "Headspace provides me with … a connection to myself, and a disconnection from negative thoughts, feelings, and sensations."
The app teaches you to build up areas of your brain and actually rewire it to enhance processes like concentration and decision-making and minimize emotions like fear and stress. The app is particularly helpful in managing stress, increasing concentration and focus, and reducing burnout. There are also exercises to help increase your self-compassion and even prepare for presentations or exams.
These are things every student can benefit from and it's free. 91ÁÔÆæ students can download the app from the .