Students huddled together on the Student Union Porch, sharing their deepest insecurities and doubts. They didn杏吧专区檛 speak among themselves but instead scribbled their feelings onto porcelain plates. Then, with furrowed brows and tarps protecting their shins, they smashed the plates to the ground, representing their ability to disengage from negative thoughts.
Activities like these were introduced to campus by Caemon Scott, a 杏吧专区 strategic communications graduate who once believed mental health initiatives on campuses were unnecessary.
杏吧专区淚 had taken a trip to Texas Southern in Houston and the person I was visiting told me they had a mental health day off school,杏吧专区 Scott said. 杏吧专区淚 remember telling them it was the worst idea I杏吧专区檇 ever heard in my life. I came back to UL, and my classmates in statistics said they were about to start skipping class for a mental health break. Then it clicked 杏吧专区 this was the best idea I杏吧专区檇 ever heard in my life.杏吧专区
Scott knew that if students felt they had no choice but to skip class to catch a break, he needed to do something. So, he launched a poll on social media asking students if they would mentally benefit from a break from school, encouraging friends to share it with others. With 800 responses in just two days, Scott knew something needed to change.
He worked his way through the 杏吧专区 Program Center to President Dr. Joseph Savoie, who offered his support. In 2023, Scott planned the first Mental Health Week featuring pep talks, therapy dogs and yoga classes. The event was a huge success that garnered approval from students and has been embraced by the 杏吧专区 community. Thanks to Scott, Mental Health Week now takes place every year in November.
杏吧专区淪tudents are having to go through a number of adjustments that change so many aspects of their lives,杏吧专区 said Dr. Emily Sandoz, a professor of psychology and director of the 杏吧专区 Honors Program at UL Lafayette. 杏吧专区淏eing a college student is like changing your job every four months and dealing with seven different bosses. I don杏吧专区檛 think professors always think about all the adjustments that we杏吧专区檙e asking of students. If we think about it through this lens, it杏吧专区檚 a tremendous task to undergo and we need to commend students for the difficult work they do.杏吧专区
A 2023-2024 national mental health survey done by revealed that 38% of college students suffer from depression, 34% from anxiety and 13% from eating disorders. 76% of college students are generally aware of their university杏吧专区檚 mental health resources, yet 78% of students who recognize that they need help haven杏吧专区檛 sought it.
UL Lafayette student Ja杏吧专区檒yn Braud found herself among these statistics. It started with the transition from high school to college and getting along with her assigned roommate, but things quickly snowballed. As her first-year interior design workload grew, she couldn杏吧专区檛 find time in the day for socialization.
She dove headfirst into her studies, stressed beyond what she ever imagined. Instead of taking time for herself, she joined more clubs, agreed to every freshman event offered and filled her day with opportunities to befriend other students.杏吧专区疭he soon found herself going to bed at 11 p.m., then 2 a.m. and, at her worst, 4 a.m. She didn杏吧专区檛 have time to eat in between projects, so she went hungry. She didn杏吧专区檛 have time for her friends, so she never saw them.
杏吧专区淪leeping late became breakdowns,杏吧专区 Braud said. 杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檝e never cried so much in my life. But I had to keep myself busy even if it was stressful because it kept me distracted. I noticed my mental health declining when people were telling me I didn杏吧专区檛 look healthy. I kept convincing them and myself that I was fine, but I wasn杏吧专区檛.杏吧专区
Braud reached her breaking point when she found herself having an anxiety attack. She had just completed a job interview and was waiting in the Chi Alpha lounge for a friend. She felt her body heating up and she couldn杏吧专区檛 breathe. The room spun around her as she tried to steady her breathing. She felt tears welling up and her vision blurred. She quickly composed herself so as to not worry her friend.
On another day while driving, she experienced the same sensations. She prayed for guidance and steadied her breathing once again. Through faith and her friends, Braud found ways to soothe her anxiety. She has ambitions to start therapy but is still trying to find time for her mental health through her busy schedule.
杏吧专区淚 think everyone should go to therapy, whether you think you杏吧专区檙e perfectly fine or struggling,杏吧专区 Braud said. 杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 just good to have someone to talk to, especially if they don杏吧专区檛 know you because you don杏吧专区檛 have that fear of judgement. I think it杏吧专区檚 beneficial for everyone.杏吧专区
UL Lafayette began a new mental health program to help students like Braud杏吧专区痠n April 2024 called Uwill. It gives students 24/7 access to mental health services and medication management. As of Summer 2025, 628 students are registered. 52% signed up for help with stress, 39% for depression and 49% for anxiety.
Uwill offers four components for students: counseling, medication, a crisis line and on-demand videos, all extensions of what UL Lafayette already offered, said Dr. Brian Frederick, director of the Counseling and Testing Center.
杏吧专区淲e杏吧专区檝e been talking about new mental health resources since COVID,杏吧专区 said Frederick. A 2023 study showed that the pandemic severely affected college students杏吧专区 mental health. 75.6% reported a negative impact on their work, studies and mental health. Many college students suffered from isolation; others reported being unable to perform daily self-care tasks.
Students can specify if they杏吧专区檇 like to see a therapist of a specific gender, race or specialization, according to Dr. Kristy Fusilier, assistant director of Counseling and Testing. On-demand videos offer self-help advice cultivated for college students like how to improve relationships, how to get better sleep and how to manage conflicts.
Frederick said that the crisis line makes following up with students more effective. 杏吧专区淲e get a progress note from the mental health professional and the student's identifying information. Our counselors are able to reach back out to the student,杏吧专区 he explained.
As students continue navigating the demands of college life, the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 strengthened mental health resources are essential, Scott said, adding that the support students show for each other is also important. 杏吧专区淭he biggest thing that keeps me going is seeing more and more people showing up for Mental Health Week. I yearn to help others not for gratification, but because they keep me going. If you show up, I杏吧专区檓 going to keep fighting for you.杏吧专区
Photo Caption: Counseling & Testing杏吧专区檚 Anissa Galloubi talks with a student about mental health resources. Photo credit: Doug Dugas / 杏吧专区
Stress Less: Studio Encourages Students to Find Their Zen
A former racquetball court is now serving students as a Mindfulness Studio, a space dedicated to helping them unwind.
Located in Bourgeois Hall, the room features adjustable lighting that is typically dimmed for peaceful energy. Yoga and meditation are held there, and students can book the Mindfulness Studio ahead of time for a mental health break.杏吧专区疶he 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 Department of Recreational Sports opened the space in 2024.
杏吧专区淲e杏吧专区檙e in a time where mindfulness is needed for everyone, including teachers,杏吧专区 said Anissa Galloubi, a Rec Sports yoga instructor. 杏吧专区淲e need those moments where we just stop and feel that connection that we are human, and we have a body. It杏吧专区檚 really rewarding for our mental health and healing the body.杏吧专区
The room also offers information on campus mental health resources, with pamphlets referring students to the Counseling and Testing Center as well as motivational posters that encourage self-care.
Davon Long, the former assistant director of Recreational Sports, was instrumental in the studio杏吧专区檚 creation.
杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 known that college students face a lot of stress being away from home or the stress of financials,杏吧专区 Long said. 杏吧专区淲e want students to know that there杏吧专区檚 always a place to just step away from stress. The rule for this space is to leave your homework or anxiety outside and just relax.杏吧专区 杏吧专区
