When Texas State student Nick Wald’s procrastination and lack of focus prevented him from achieving his educational goals, he turned to on-campus resources for help. Meeting with a counselor improved his mental health and grades.
At the end of the fall semester, exams and projects are common for students. At Texas State, mental health resources are available at no extra cost to support students feeling overwhelmed. To combat anxieties, students can join an organization, use the counseling center, or download the TimelyCare virtual health app.
Healthy Cats, a student organization concerned about the well-being of students, gives opportunities to learn more about health of all types. The organization meets from five to six p.m. on Tuesdays at the Student Health Center.
Any student can join regardless of major or year. Healthy Cats’ mission is to help students learn about health-related issues while providing a space to improve communication skills.
The president of the organization, Vanessa Ibarra, enjoys seeing the members interact with each other. Ibarra said a lot of the members are freshmen, so the nerves about college are evident. Ibarra thinks it’s cool she gets to see people create relationships within the organization.
“A lot of them get out of their shell,” Ibarra said.
Ibarra thinks building connections with other people can be important for mental health. Ibarra said a person’s health can impact various parts of life.
Texas State student Nick Wald started struggling to complete schoolwork with a bad mental health state. Wald noticed the school sent emails frequently with information about mental health resources.
When Wald started failing one of his classes, Texas State sent him an email about resources on campus.
Wald has been using the counseling center since the end of the spring semester. The counseling center is located in the LBJ Student Center and is open Monday through Friday.
Wald wanted to improve his ability to focus and find ways to combat his procrastination.
“I needed to talk to somebody in order to give me those tools,” Wald said.
When Jennifer Mendoza has time after school, she enjoys reading. She can escape to the world inside the book and de-stress. (Photo credit: Kathryn Burroughs) 
Jennifer Mendoza loves working out so she can stay healthy. She tries to go to the gym several times a week with other people or alone. (Photo credit: Kathryn Burroughs) 
Jennifer Mendoza uses social media to keep up with her friends’ activities. By maintaining her social life, she supports her well-being. (Photo credit: Kathryn Burroughs) 
Sometimes an unexpectedly funny video will show up as Jennifer Mendoza is looking through social media content. Even if it’s something silly, she will still find it funny. (Photo credit: Kathryn Burroughs) 
Included in her routine sometimes, Jennifer Mendoza will watch a movie or series. While watching something, she can turn her school brain off and relax at the end of the day. (Photo credit: Kathryn Burroughs)
Texas State junior Zoe Newberry has dealt with mental health issues for the majority of her life. When Newberry started attending Texas State, she tried to connect with the counseling center on campus but found it difficult to get in touch through phone calls.
Newberry’s phone call anxiety is the main reason she doesn’t reach out for help.
Newberry said it would make it so much easier to receive help if there were other options than making a phone call. She said she would be more inclined to use resources on campus if she could send an email or make an appointment through a website.
“The mental well-being of the students that attend your university is really important,” Newberry said. “Just focusing and making sure they’re mentally well is very important.”
Newberry said a person’s mental health is an important aspect of life. She thinks it’s vital someone has good coping mechanisms when they aren’t feeling well.
“If your brain isn’t healthy, then you aren’t healthy,” Newberry said.
Zoe Newberry enjoys being outside if her mental health is impacting her. Even if it’s for five or 15 minutes, she tries to get outside if she is stressed. (Photo credit: Kathryn Burroughs) 
Writing her thoughts for the day is another way Zoe Newberry takes care of herself. She reminds herself what she is grateful for or recognizes her efforts in classes. (Photo credit: Kathryn Burroughs) 
Since 2013, therapy dogs have been coming to the Texas State campus to help students relieve stress. Divine Canines, the organization that brings the animals, was created in 2004 to support the well-being of people through dogs. (Photo credit: Kathryn Burroughs) 
The LBJ Student Center contains the counseling center that supports the well-being of students. In addition to counseling, the counseling center participates in outreach and offers webinars. (Photo credit: Kathryn Burroughs) 
The Student Health Center offers different healthcare services to all students. Primary, urgent, mental health and sexual health care are available. (Photo credit: Kathryn Burroughs)
Texas State has partnered with TimelyCare to expand its mental health resources. Students can use this virtual health service by downloading the TimelyCare app.
The app offers counseling, health coaching, self-care information and other services.
TimelyCare is available to students 24/7 and 365 days a year to ensure support is accessible whenever needed. Students can use the platform at no cost and without insurance.
Newberry said she thinks it’s good that Texas State keeps adding new resources for students, especially ones that are more easily accessible for people not living on or near campus.
“I think it’s good that they’re trying to advance with society,” Newberry said.
Texas State announced the closing of the on-campus pharmacy in May. The Student Health Center will use the pharmacy funds for other purposes.
While the option for on-campus prescription pickup is not available, multiple pharmacies are under a 10-minute drive from the university.
Although Texas State provides several resources, Wald said it’s “on the students to take some initiative.”
Texas State sends reminder emails or places posters around campus, but students can also reach out first for health support.
“It’s on the students to recognize when they need help,” Wald said.
