Mental Health and ME

The Mechanical Engineering Department prioritizes maintaining a safe and healthy environment for students, staff, and faculty — and that includes mental health. If you are aware of a life-threatening emergency where there is an immediate threat of bodily harm to self or others, call 911 or UMPD at 624-COPS. For non-life-threatening urgent needs, crisis and urgent consultations are available at Student Counseling Services and Boynton Health. See below for more information and resources.

Mental Health Advocates

If a member of the ME community is experiencing excessive stress and/or their mental health needs attention, the department has Mental Health Advocates (MHAs) who can help. While they aren't able to counsel individuals, they are trained in identifying campus resources appropriate for the situation. Moreover, MHAs are educated in public mental health promotion, and work to identify unnecessary student stressors within our spheres of influence (classmate; lab; department; etc) and advocate towards reducing these, to provide a more accessible climate to all students. Please feel encouraged to reach out to our departmental MHAs for guidance.

Cari Dutcher (starting fall 2023)
cdutcher@umn.edu
612-624-0428

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John Gardner
gardn032@umn.edu
612-625-2009

Not Available

The MHA program is open to all staff and faculty in the university. If you are interested in learning more about becoming an MHA, please contact MHAdvocates@umn.edu or Kate Elwell at kelwell@umn.edu.

Campus Resources

  • If a student is experiencing a crisis, they can utilize the U of M Crisis Line at 612-301-4673 (available 24/7), U of M Textline 24/7 by texting "UMN" to 61222.
     

  • Boynton Mental Health Clinic offers both in-person and telehealth appointments for counseling/therapy and medication management for students, and offers several groups virtually.The Mental Health Clinic is also available for in-person crisis appointments. Boynton Health is also seeing patients for physical health needs in person and virtually. Please be aware that access for ongoing therapy is likely to be more limited as we approach the final weeks of the spring semester.

  • Student Counseling Services offers hybrid (both virtual and in-person) counseling services. Quick access options include academic workshops, counseling groups, and affinity/accountability groups. SCS also offers short term individual counseling. If you have a student in need of mental health resources, also consider a referral to the Care Program.

  • The University Recreation and Wellness (RecWell) department offers a wide range of programs, services, and facilities designed to promote and enhance physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Opportunities that aid in the prevention of stress, anxiety, and depression-related challenges include massage therapy, group fitness classes (virtual and in-person), personal training, wellness coaching, intramural sports, sport clubs, outdoor adventure rentals and climbing activities, and aquatics offerings.

  • The Disability Resource Center (DRC) offers appointments and meetings remotely by phone, or by video conference (Zoom or Google Meet), as well as in-person as necessary. We invite you to connect with us in a way that works best for you. New or prospective students can be referred directly to the DRC for a confidential conversation and remote meeting. Students should reach out by email drc@umn or call and leave a message at 612-626-1333, to set up a time to meet remotely.

  • Let's Talk is a free drop-in service that offers informal, confidential consultations for U of M students throughout the academic year. No appointment is necessary, so a student can select from in-person and virtual drop-in options during the scheduled times. Let's Talk counselors can listen to specific problems (such as stress, relationships and academic performance), provide support, help explore solutions and give information about other resources. Let’s Talk is offered 5 days a week over Zoom and at various locations on the East and West Bank of campus.
     

  • Learn to Live is an online therapy program that is available and free for students (code “UMN”). Programs are confidential and accessible anywhere with the following topics: social anxiety; depression; insomnia; substance use; and stress, anxiety, and worry.

  • YOU@UMN is a well-being portal for University of Minnesota students offering tools, dynamic content, and resources built to align with on-campus health and wellness programs and resources. The platform is highly personalized and will help UMN students find the campus and community content and resources tailored to their individual needs and personal goals.