May 14, 2026
The university experience is filled with newfound opportunities and adventures that can yield cherished memories and lifelong relationships. However, with these highs come a host of competing academic, social, and professional demands that can take a toll on a student’s mental well-being. This is perhaps most acutely felt now, as we approach the end of the Spring Quarter, when the excitement of summer and the celebratory air of commencement go hand in hand with finals-induced stress and trepidation about life after graduation.
Fortunately, the team at UChicago’s Student Wellness Center offers a wealth of resources and programming to help guide students through these challenges. In addition to providing traditional talk therapy for individuals and couples, Wellness offers a wide variety of programs and events to help students destress, ranging from dance lessons at its Shake Off the Stress event at Bond Chapel on May 18 to crafts at its bi-weekly Art Open Studio.
Easing stress is the explicit goal of one Wellness’s signature events, Stress Relief Day. Taking place on May 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Regenstein Library, students in need of a quick study break can stop by to pet therapy dogs, write postcards, or grab a snack.
The Center also shares its expertise through the Maroon Mental Health Matters program. This free, three-and-a-half-hour training session is designed to equip students, staff, and faculty with the skills to help someone experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis. While the program is tailored to the UChicago community, as Emily Scott, Assistant Director of Student Engagement at Student Wellness, puts it, “They’re skills that just make you a really great human and great tools for students who are going to go out in the world.”
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which was created in part to help reduce the stigma around discussing and seeking treatment for mental health issues. Though mental health has become a less taboo subject in recent years, misconceptions around seeking help still exist.
One common misconception that Carina Bauer, Associate Director of Clinical Services at Student Wellness, hears from students is that their issues are not substantial enough to warrant therapy. However, she insists that no problem is too small if it is affecting a student’s well-being. “Our therapists will take whatever concerns a student has incredibly seriously. There’s a lot of respect, empathy, and consideration in the process. A student should know there’s no reason not to come see us,” she explains.
Another important resource that Wellness offers is group therapy. Though the prospect of opening up to a group of strangers may be daunting, Bauer explains that hearing peers echo your struggles can be incredibly powerful and help students feel less alone. “I think it can be really scary when a student comes into therapy and is encouraged to try group therapy,” Bauer says. “But in my experience, it can be life-changing to hear other peers, people you wouldn’t necessarily know on campus, say things that are relatable and realize, ‘Wow, this person is experiencing the same thing,’ or, ‘I didn’t know a fourth-year student could be going through that.’”
Though it can be easy for students to overlook their physical and mental well-being while navigating the demands of college life, prioritizing self-care is crucial to their success, and the Student Wellness Center offers plenty of on-campus resources to support it. “It’s important to do well in school, but it’s also important to make yourself a priority and take care of yourself,” Bauer stresses. “There’s something courageous about knowing when you need help and support and asking for it, whether that’s asking a faculty member for an extension on a paper, telling a friend you need to talk, or making an appointment with us.”