What ​​Kate Peterson learned from the pandemic is that students don’t compartmentalize like adults. Academics, social life, mental health, it’s all one pot of soup.

Supporting students throughout their college years – a time ripe with depression, anxiety, and stress – means looking at their lives the same way they do, holistically.

“It’s the idea of student choice, that if we can provide a lot of choices for them, they’re going to be able to engage in a way that’s useful for them,” said Peterson, an undergraduate services librarian at the University of Minnesota Libraries.

The University of Minnesota’s Class of 2029 had a lot on their mind. Over 43 percent of incoming students have financial concerns, nearly 40 percent are worried about their academic coursework, and 26 percent are concerned about mental health, according to the “Tell Us About Yourself” pre-orientation survey.

In addition to providing academic assistance, the Libraries has an array of mental health resources, programs, and events to help students manage stress, burnout, depression, and anxiety.

“Libraries are good connectors to mental health services,”  said Lacie McMillin, an undergraduate services specialist. “A part of our job is connecting students with what they need, and sometimes that’s those mental health services.”

Mental health clinics, PAWS, and other Boynton services

In 2021, the Libraries partnered with Boynton Health to open a new mental health clinic on the fourth floor of Wilson Library, meant to combat the relative lack of resources and services on the West Bank.

“When the opportunity to open a mental health clinic on the West Bank came up, we were excited to take it,” said Chiara Mesia, a psychotherapist at Boynton. “We knew our students were already going to the libraries to fulfill some of their academic needs and look for resources, so we knew that having a clinic available for them in one of our libraries would be well received.”

The Libraries was an obvious choice for a mental health clinic; it’s a public space that welcomes all students, regardless of year or program. Though the West Bank clinic typically sees an influx of students from Minnesota Carlson, the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, and the Law School.

“These are students who would have been able to access services at the East Bank clinic but would have faced some additional challenges with scheduling due to their rigorous program schedules,” Mesia said. “We are proud to reduce barriers to access by offering services at Wilson.”

Wilson Library is also a popular venue for Boynton’s Pet Away Worry and Stress (PAWS) program. PAWS is a free two-hour event where students can pet and play with registered therapy animals, mostly dogs but also cats, rabbits, and chickens.

Recently, Walter Library has begun hosting PAWS as well. PAWS is always one of the most popular events at the Libraries, but this year average attendance has increased to around 175 visitors per session.

It’s a stressful time for students, McMillin said, so there’s been an increase in participation for programs like PAWS, and the Libraries are partnering with Boynton to help meet that demand. But also, who doesn’t want to spend time with some amazing animals?

“I’m such a dog person, and it does really help, just taking a break during the day to go spend some time with dogs,” McMillin said. “And all the people who volunteer are so lovely and so kind.”

A complete list of Boynton’s current services is available here, and the West Bank clinic is open Monday through Thursday during regular library hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with telehealth only on Fridays.

Avoiding the Sunday Scaries

This year, the Libraries started a new event series, Friday Finish. The event encourages students to avoid procrastination and finish their work early, so they can enjoy the weekend and not get stressed out Sunday night.

“It’s that feeling on a Friday afternoon where the last thing you want to do is homework or studying, but if you could just get a little bit more work done … your weekend will be better,” Peterson said.

Friday Finish also coincides with free peer tutoring from the Tutoring and Academic Success Centers at Walter Library, and other programs, like Boynton or student writing support, are there to offer support. Students may have seen a lot of these groups during Welcome Week, but it’s great to have them midway through the semester, when assignments are well underway and students are in a much different headspace, Peterson explained.

And whenever students need a break, there’s crafting stations for button or bracelet making, mini-painting, as well as snacks and fun reading.

“I was able to meet some really cool people at this event, so that was really cool! It was such a nice place to mingle and get some work done,” one student said.

Friday Finish is similar to another popular event that the Libraries hosts towards the end of the semester, the Long Night Against Procrastination. Students all come together at Wilson Library with one goal: get ready for finals.

It can be easier to get tasks done when working with other people, Peterson said. The event has focused study time and built-in breaks, plenty of snacks and late night pizza, and hosts from the Weisman Art Museum, the University Book Club, and the Westbank Community Garden.

“I loved the fun activities and fun people that are always at this event! This atmosphere is so chill and fun, and I’ll keep coming here to till I graduate!” a student said.

This year’s Long Night Against Procrastination will be hosted on December 3 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. But get there early; they run out of chairs and tables every time they host it.

“We’re creating a space for community. Students really appreciate places where they can bring their friends, hang out and study, take breaks and be productive, and be around other people,” McMillin said. “I think that’s why PAWS is so popular, too, because it’s all about creating that community.”

Quiet places to study/relax in

Big events aren’t for everyone, and in the spirit of student choice, the Libraries has quieter options.

All the libraries across campus offer quiet study spaces, like room 208 at Walter Library, the quiet study room on the fifth floor of the Health Sciences Library (HSL), or study room 301B in Wilson Library. There are over 60 group or individual study rooms at the Libraries, which can be reserved for up to two hours per day, and two weeks in advance.

Walter, Wilson, and HSL also have meditation and reflection rooms – equipped with rugs, pillows, and chairs – and available for all students, instructors, and staff. Walter Library has the historic Upson Room, a popular study spot open during the Friday Finish, as well as the collaborative study space on the second floor, and the Toaster Innovation Hub in the basement.

Unique to Wilson Library is the sensory-friendly study room, which includes adjustable lighting, a sit/stand desk, an exercise ball, fidgets, a weighted blanket, pillows, and more.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a library without books. The Libraries have a wellness, self-care, and mental health awareness reading list. Students can check these books out in-person, or download them as an e-book or audiobook through the Libby app.

“Audiobooks are something that I hear consistently from students. It’s a really great way for them to take breaks while they’re still really busy,” Peterson said.

Also available for checkout are Seasonal Affective Disorder lights to combat Minnesota’s gray, wintry weather. Or students can rent Meta Quest 2 virtual reality headsets for free at the VR Studio at HSL. These headsets have guided meditation programs to help de-stress.