At this point in the semester, some students may be experiencing higher levels of stress than usual. This, coupled with the recent safety alerts we received within the past week, can lead to additional unease and concern.
Dean of Students Sandy Jones
Please know we are here for you, and there are many support resources to help you during stressful times. We know incidents like these can sometimes leave a lasting effect on us—it’s important right now that you take care of yourselves and look out for your fellow Buffs.
Here are some tips to contribute to the health and safety of yourselves and others:
- If you ever feel unsafe or you are in an emergency situation, call 911 immediately.
- If you see or hear something concerning, don’t ignore it. Review information about how you can be an effective bystander and look out for other members of the community.
- During unsettling times, it is essential you pay attention to your emotional well-being. Talk things out with a trusted friend or family member, practice self-care and seek support from campus resources, including Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS), the Office of Victim Assistance (OVA) and Student Support & Case Management.
- For general emotional health support, SilverCloud Health is a free online portal that offers secure, immediate access to online programs for stress, anxiety and depression. Each module offers information, tips and interactive activities to better understand one’s emotional well-being.
- Practice stress-management techniques: Visit the Rec Center for some physical activity, spend time with friends and family or engage in a favorite hobby. I also encourage you to explore apps, podcasts, YouTube videos and other resources for guided mediation or deep breathing techniques you can do anywhere.
- Take safety precautions when you can: closing and locking doors and windows to help prevent burglaries and assaults, being conscientious of any strangers trying to enter residence halls or apartment buildings and using the buddy system.
Even with the best of precautions, we can nonetheless feel the effects of safety breaches in our community, either directly or by knowing others have been impacted. If you or a friend needs additional support, I strongly encourage both of you to take advantage of the free support resources available.
Please continue to take care of yourselves and one another. We are and will remain a close CU Boulder community.
Sandy Jones
Dean of Students
