Chancellor, Deans, and Faculty Partner with Student Health and Counseling in ‘Mental Health Matters’
While the academically rigorous setting at UCSF fosters an environment that facilitates excellence in research, education and patient care, the high-achieving atmosphere can contribute to challenges to managing one’s mental health. Routine preventative health care for a person’s physical health is widely accepted, yet stigma acknowledging mental health needs persists.
To address mental health stigma and raise awareness of the importance of mental health self-care, UCSF Student Health and Counseling Services (SHCS) launched the “Mental Health Matters” campaign on Oct. 20. The campaign features posters and social media highlighting the Chancellor and other faculty members answering the question, “How do you take care of your mental health?”
The campaign also seeks to engage all UCSF students, staff and faculty by asking them to answer the same question, which they can post on the SHCS Mental Health Awareness Campaign website and/or the SHCS Facebook page.
We all seek consultation when a problem is beyond our expertise. In the same vein, seeing a counselor is a way of getting answers to emotional health questions when we are unable to do so for ourselves.
The question “How do you take care of your mental health?” implies we all have a side to our well being related to our emotional health and it takes work to keep that aspect of our health strong. By having successful and respected faculty answer this question, it normalizes that this need is present for everyone and is a key to thriving.
The “Mental Health Matters” Campaign will also be featured as part of the UCSF campus’ Mental Health Awareness Week activities beginning on Oct. 27 through Oct. 31.
For more internal-facing stories from the UCSF community, please visit Pulse of UCSF.
Additional Resources:
Student Health and Counseling Services (Parnassus and Mission Bay)
Millberry Union West 500 Parnassus Ave., level P8, room 005
William J. Rutter Center 1675 Owens St., 3rd Floor, room 330
Tel: (415) 476-1281
[email protected]
Faculty and Staff Assistance Program
3333 California St., Suite 293
Tel: (415) 476-8279