If holiday noise is causing elevated stress or feelings of loneliness, you are not alone. According to a November 2025 , nearly half of adults (48%) said they are worried about missing someone or grief, and 46% said they are worried about affording or finding holiday gifts. Nearly one in three adults is worried about dealing with challenging family dynamics (32%) or being lonely (31%).

鈥淭here is no right or wrong way to experience this time of year,鈥� says Kayla Beswick 鈥�16 鈥�18MA, a licensed counselor for , who earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology and master鈥檚 degree in marriage, couple and family therapy. 鈥�I try to encourage my clients to reflect on what the holidays are to them, not what others expect it to be.鈥�

Beswick shares these three tips for navigating the holidays:

Self-Care

• Find connection.

Connection can come in many forms. If you can鈥檛 be with loved ones this year, maybe connection looks giving back to your community or a cause that is important to you; maybe that means reconnecting with yourself and truly giving yourself the time and opportunity to do so.

While we may not be able to be physically present with loved ones, connection in other forms still counts, and we may need to adjust our expectations with what we are able to realistically do. Phone calls, writing letters or doing an activity that you would normally do together can be ways of emotionally connecting to people when they are not physically present.

Remember, you can make the holiday season be what you want it to be.

• Be curious and trust your inner voice.

Ask yourself where the stress is coming from. If it comes from an outside source, then give yourself permission to listen to what is inside, what you want to feel and what you need during this time of year.

• Be aware of roadblocks.

Sometimes it can be difficult to open up to others or be honest with ourselves. If you鈥檙e noticing this roadblock, it could be helpful to be in a space that is completely judgement free and allows for pure self-expression. Often the thought, 鈥渉ere we go again鈥� can be a sign that some additional accountability or a different way of perceiving things may be helpful. If it feels like your usual methods of coping are no longer working, you want guidance to make changes, or even just reflect, therapy would be the perfect space.

Moreover, distress is not a requirement for counseling. Therapy is for anyone who wants to improve themselves or spend time reflecting on their life experience. Being a human can be tough and beautiful at the same time, so why not understand yourself better to enhance your relationships, life goals and experience?

Mental Health Resources

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call 988. Free, confidential counseling is available 24/7 for mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or simply available for anyone who needs someone to talk to.

It鈥檚 important to prioritize taking care of your mental health. Take advantage of these resources at 麻豆原创 and locally to help you:

Students

• 麻豆原创 : CAPS offers a free 24/7 crisis hotline can be reached by calling 407-823-2811 and pressing 5 during the holiday campus closure. CAPS will be open and available for drop-in services starting Jan. 5, and resume its typical mental health services to students on Jan. 12.
• : TAO is a self-guided interactive program that aids with managing anxiety, depression and other concerns.
• : Togetherall is a peer-to-peer space to connect with others experiencing similar feelings in a supportive environment, with trained professionals on hand 24/7.

Faculty and Staff

• The offers a 24-hour emergency hotline and in-person, telephonic or video counseling with licensed professional counselors. It is confidential and free to all faculty and staff (excluding OPS student employees) as well as their eligible family members, including spouses, dependent children, parents and parents-in-law.

Safety

麻豆原创 police officers and dispatchers are available 24/7, even when campus is closed. Always dial 911 in an emergency. 麻豆原创PD personnel are also available at the non-emergency line at 407-823-5555. All 麻豆原创PD officers are trained in crisis intervention, equipping them to more compassionately and effectively respond to those who may be struggling.

Food Resources

is closed through Jan. 11, 2026, and will reopen Jan. 12 when classes resume for the spring semester. Care bags for 麻豆原创 students can be found at and during the closure. Additionally, the pantry has compiled a in Altamonte Springs, Maitland, Orlando and Oviedo that can offer assistance.

Free Holiday Fun

As one of the world鈥檚 premier tourist destinations, Orlando has endless entertainment options, including opportunities to get in the festive spirit without causing financial stress and maxing out your bank account.

• (downtown Orlando): Now through January 6, you can find holiday-themed light installations, a holiday market, 鈥渟now鈥� fall, Santa and Grinch sightings, musical performances, occasional free holiday movies and more.
• (downtown Orlando and home to ): Running weekly through Jan. 4, 2026, the arts center鈥檚 three-acre lawn 鈥� including Seneff Arts Plaza 鈥� will come alive with more than 80 live performances, twinkling light displays, fire pits, nightly snowfalls and family-friendly activities.
• : Experience some Disney magic without theme park costs. Disney Springs (which has free parking) boasts more than 15 elaborately themed Christmas trees inspired by Disney characters, Pixar films and theme park favorites, nightly entertainment and festive window shopping.
• : Receive free admission every Friday evening, 4鈥�8 p.m., through December, and special live musical performances during the holiday season.
• (free for 麻豆原创 students): The 麻豆原创 women’s and men’s basketball teams will host a doubleheader Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively, at Addition Financial Arena. The men鈥檚 team debuts its 鈥淣auty or Knights鈥� theme, featuring a mix of mascots, specialty concession items and a limited-edition Knights or ‘Nauts Holiday T-shirt giveaway, available on a first come-first served basis, while supplies last. The day is a chance for fans to break out their Black and Gold or Canaveral Blue all at once, celebrating both 麻豆原创鈥檚 primary and alternate identities.
• (Cocoa Beach): A holiday spectacle that is uniquely Florida, Surfing Santas is an annual Cocoa Beach tradition that brings hundreds of surfers of all ages dressed up as Santa, elves, snowmen and everything else in between. This free morning event Dec. 24 is family friendly with entertainment including musical performances, Hawaiian dancers and of course, surfing Santas.

Additional Support for Students

It’s also worth noting, additional support for students is available when campus operations resume in January. serves as a vital resource for students encountering unexpected challenges that may impact their enrollment and academic success. If you are facing issues related to non-clinical mental health, basic needs, or other unforeseen circumstances, please contact Student Care Services by calling 407-823-5607, emailing听caremanager@ucf.edu, or submitting a for yourself or a fellow Knight.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really hard,鈥� I said as I unsuccessfully fought back tears.

Everyone tells you parenting is hard, but no one tells you just how hard. You hear about the 鈥渂aby blues鈥� but not that you might endure weeks before finally experiencing a day without any tears 鈥� yours, not the baby鈥檚.

She gave me a look of understanding and then told me she didn鈥檛 feel like herself until six months after the birth of her own children.

OK, I thought. Six months. March 2020.

Ha.

Come March 2020 on top of my anxiety, depression and self-confidence issues, I was dealing with something that no one had experience with and could give me advice on: parenting an infant during a global pandemic.

Add into the mix that my husband 鈥� who I love with my entire being 鈥� and I were trying to figure out how to be around each other constantly. That presented its own set of challenges.

My professional life, which was now being done from home, included writing thousands of words daily about the impacts of COVID to the university鈥檚 students, employees and operations, publishing a magazine issue, and a university presidential search.

And I expected to navigate all of this with the perfectionist standards I鈥檝e had my entire life.

The 鈥渟houlds鈥� took over, as they often do.

I should be able to write award-worthy stories.

I should be able to whip up a variety of homemade solid foods for my son so his nutritional needs are met and he doesn鈥檛 become a picky eater.

I should be waking up at 5 a.m. every day to run at least a 5K.

I should be able to do all of this and more because, in my mind, parents always have 鈥� and many during more dire circumstances with far fewer resources than I have.

But I just couldn鈥檛 do all of it and none of my go-to coping mechanisms 鈥� exercise, adequate sleep, limiting caffeine 鈥� were working.

鈥淚 was tired of measuring the success of each day by if I merely survived it. I didn鈥檛 want to just survive my life. I wanted to appreciate it and live it.鈥�

By July 2020, I decided I couldn鈥檛 live like this anymore. I was tired of measuring the success of each day by if I merely survived it. I didn鈥檛 want to just survive my life. I wanted to appreciate it and live it.

I think that feeling coupled with my devotion to the only podcast I listen to religiously, Armchair Expert 鈥� which advocates the benefits of therapy nearly every episode 鈥� motivated me to finally take some action. The hosts Dax and Monica made me feel seen and like I wasn鈥檛 alone in needing help; that seeking counseling isn鈥檛 a sign of weakness 鈥� a philosophy of which I think our society has a long way to go.

I had heard about 麻豆原创鈥檚 Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which offers six sessions of free therapy per topic, but in the past I had always shooed away the idea. I shouldn鈥檛 need that. I have no major trauma in my life to cope with. I just need to suck it up and get through this.

But one day I vowed, today is the day I call. In less than 30 minutes, I was matched with a counselor. I had never done counseling, so I had no clue what to expect.

In my first online session, I explained my anxieties 鈥� that even though rationally I knew I was a good mom, a good wife, a good coworker, it didn鈥檛 keep me from feeling like nothing I did professionally or at home was good enough. That I was so overwhelmed at times, I was missing out on the joy of my son and my husband. That I wanted to be me again.

My counselor asked me an important question that has continued to help me shape the way I reason with myself when I start to spiral:

If a friend was telling you these same things about herself, what would you say to her?

I realized I couldn鈥檛 extend myself the same compassion that I would give anyone who was in such distress. And I mourned that I subjected myself to such negative self-talk when I would never let a friend talk about herself that way. Why couldn鈥檛 I want that for myself? How many days of my life have I ruined doing this?

So that鈥檚 what I鈥檝e been working on. I鈥檝e since done 11 video sessions with my counselor. We message from week to week in between sessions, and it has been so helpful to just talk to someone.

There are days I am better at giving myself grace than others. I鈥檝e learned the end goal isn鈥檛 to be happy. Life isn鈥檛 happy all the time, and all of your emotions, even the tough ones, are meant to be experienced. That means you鈥檙e living.

My husband and I have even done a couple of counseling sessions together since EAP covers family members too. We both love each other, and we both are confident in the strength of our relationship, but again it鈥檚 free; what do we have to lose? One of the strategies we鈥檝e adopted from counseling is to set aside time during the week to check in with each other; to hash out anything that might be lingering, address needs that aren鈥檛 being met, or tell each other about the moments we truly appreciated one another during the week.

I plan to continue counseling. I know now that practicing self-compassion and self-care need to be included among what we demand of ourselves.

I resent that our society doesn鈥檛 normalize, prioritize or validate mental health like it does physical health. Maybe if it did, I would have sought counseling sooner.

Nevertheless, I am here now and I am thankful that 麻豆原创 offers the resources that serve as a reminder that, as Albus Dumbledore said, 鈥淗appiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.鈥�

Resources available to 麻豆原创 students and employees

麻豆原创 offers its to all non-student employees. This program provides resources to help employees and their eligible family members 鈥� including spouses, dependent children, parents and parents-in-law 鈥� to address any personal challenges and/or concerns that may affect personal well-being and/or work performance. The EAP, administered by Health Advocate, provides confidential, short-term counseling at no cost to the employee.

Health Advocate toll-free number: 877-240-6863

Health Advocate website:听

If you are a student looking for help, (CAPS) is 麻豆原创鈥檚 mental health resource for students. You can visit CAPS鈥� website for听.听Students can also schedule phone or virtual consultation with CAPS by听calling 407-823-2811 or visiting听.

Student Care Services听continues to work remotely with anyone who needs additional academic or personal support during this time.

Jenna Marina Lee is a features writer for the 麻豆原创 Marketing and Communications department. She has also worked for the university’s alumni and athletics departments.

Mandi Nelson, a junior advertising/public relations student and 麻豆原创 social media ambassador, recently shared her perspective on the importance of mental health during this time.

鈥淲e are all complex human beings with stories, and often times with those stories come with challenges that we hold in and they build up over time because we don鈥檛 want to burden others,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut talking about your struggles is healthy and shouldn鈥檛 be stigmatized.鈥�

As an advocate for mental health, Nelson鈥檚 awareness on the topic developed in high school after the sports fan saw NBA player Kevin Love and NFL player Hayden Hurst share their personal struggles. After exploring her own mental wellness journey for a while, Nelson decided to start using 麻豆原创鈥檚 in November 2019 to get some additional support. Throughout the pandemic, she鈥檚 continued to work with CAPS through virtual telehealth appointments, and the organization has returned to limited in-person services this semester.

鈥淔ocusing on my mental health has taught me to have more empathy for others and patience with myself,鈥� Nelson says. In the video above, she discusses what the process of becoming involved with CAPS was like for her and how other students can get help.

For students who don鈥檛 feel they鈥檙e ready to go to CAPS or are looking for peers to connect with, Nelson suggests becoming involved with . The 麻豆原创 chapter is part of a national organization that promotes mental health awareness and aims to change the conversation around the topic.

One piece of advice, Nelson says everyone can benefit from is finding self-care practices that work for you. To learn more about what her practices are and how she found them, watch the video.

To learn more about CAPS, visit . CAPS staff can be reached directly via phone Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 407-823-2811 (press 5 for after-hours support).

鈥淭here are a lot of studies that show that our thoughts lead first, then our emotions follow,鈥� says W. Steven Saunders, 麻豆原创 associate lecturer of psychology and a licensed psychologist. 鈥淕iven that, establishing positive emotions or wellbeing 鈥� even in the face of difficult things happening in your life 鈥� by practicing gratitude can psychologically shifts your attention to things that are actually going right in your life.鈥�

Understanding the Benefits

Thanksgiving is a time when people typically express their appreciation for their family, friends, or a delicious meal, but the changes and challenges of this year may make it hard to find this spirit.

鈥淲hether you鈥檙e talking to older relatives or younger friends over the holidays, talk with them about if they鈥檝e seen anything good come out of this strange, bizarre year and it might be interesting to see what different generations have to say about that,鈥� says Linda Simmons 鈥�20惭础, aa staff therapist who supports students through the 鈥檚 Counseling and Wellness Services.

鈥淭he most reliable research suggests there is an indirect impact on physical health.鈥� 鈥� Linda Simmons 鈥�20惭础, College of Medicine staff therapist

Regardless, gratitude can be a daily practice that has long-term effects. Over the past decade, many studies on gratitude have shown varying advantages, such as improving sleep and mental health, reducing ailments, and even boosting your immune system.

But the benefits may not happen the way you think.

鈥淭he most reliable research suggests there is an indirect impact on physical health,鈥� says Simmons, who recently earned a master鈥檚 in counselor education from 麻豆原创. 鈥淕ratitude can help you receive the benefits of greater emotional well-being, psychological health, and social health, which can cause people to be more likely to take care of themselves physically and their medical health needs.鈥�

And while there have been mixed results on gratitude鈥檚 ability to influence levels of depression, Saunders notes that positive and negative emotions have a hard time coexisting together.

鈥淲hen you purposely set up a positive emotion, it cascades and helps you feel good more often,鈥� Saunders says.

Authenticity is Key

Some people are naturally predisposed to a more negative outlook, making it harder to find things to be thankful for than others, Simmons says. Even if you鈥檙e a glass-half-full type of person, it may be challenging some days to maintain your gratitude.

鈥淥ne thing we don鈥檛 find very helpful is forced gratitude.鈥� 鈥� Linda Simmons 鈥�20惭础, College of Medicine staff therapist

鈥淥ne thing we don鈥檛 find very helpful is forced gratitude,鈥� Simmons says. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 advise launching into a person for whom gratitude doesn鈥檛 come easy or telling someone to 鈥楯ust look on the bright side.鈥� Oftentimes that actually makes a person feel less positive.鈥�

Instead, take time to truly process whatever you鈥檙e feeling, especially if you鈥檝e lost experiences, people or opportunities in the past year. Sometimes the best thing you can do for someone else is to just listen.

鈥淎 lot of negativity is fear-based and we鈥檙e living in an age where there鈥檚 a lot of fear going around,鈥� Saunders says. 鈥淲hat we know about psychology is the more you talk about your feelings and emotions the more they change. So approaching someone with compassion and really listening can really make a difference.鈥�

Once, you鈥檙e ready to start focusing on the positive, Saunders says you should develop a ritual or routine around the value that is meaningful to you.

Grow Your Gratitude

Gratitude is a like a muscle and like any muscle consistent exercise is necessary for growth. One common practice is the 鈥淭he Big Three,鈥� naming or writing a list of three things you鈥檙e grateful for each day. Keeping a gratitude journal can benefit you personally, as well as professionally. A study conducted by 麻豆原创 researchers earlier this year found the habit can lead employees to exhibit less rude behavior and mistreatment of others in the workplace.

Another method is writing a letter to someone who has made a difference in your life. Although gratitude can make a difference even when you keep it to yourself, sharing your appreciating with others can help spread positive feelings and strengthen your relationships.

When giving thanks to a loved one, a new study published in Sage Journals found it鈥檚 best to be specific about how they helped support your needs. It also found that you should avoid pointing out sacrifices an individual has made for you since it diminishes their altruistic motivation for doing so.

鈥淓ven if you don鈥檛 have a spiritual or religious belief, you can still practice gratitude in some simple ways every day.鈥� 鈥� W. Steven Saunders, psychology associate lecturer

鈥淲hatever your personal belief system might be, you can incorporate that,鈥� Saunders says. 鈥淓ven if you don鈥檛 have a spiritual or religious belief, you can still practice gratitude in some simple ways every day.鈥�

Simmons, who has experience as a Presbyterian minister and a hospital chaplain, says gratitude is an important value and practice in most major world religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism.

鈥淔or some people, gratitude is spiritual. For other people, it鈥檚 interpersonal. But it鈥檚 outside ourselves in some way, something we didn鈥檛 make happen, cause, create, or earn 鈥� it鈥檚 given to us as a gift,鈥� Simmons says. 鈥淭o me, gratitude is an invitation to say 鈥業 wonder if that鈥檚 the only way we can look at this day, week, month, season or year? Is there a way we can look at not just what we lost or missed, but what we learned, what is new about a circumstance or what brought us closer?鈥� Most of us have never been through a pandemic before, and we don鈥檛 know how to handle it, so however we鈥檝e handled it is OK.鈥�

Students struggling with maintaining their emotional and mental well-being can find support through . 麻豆原创 employees and their dependents can take advantage of the听, which provides confidential, short-term counseling at no cost.

To ensure you鈥檙e able to do so, 麻豆原创鈥檚 is still open to help students at no cost. While the office is not seeing anyone in person at this time, there are still resources available that align with social distancing. These include:

• : Phone or video-conference counseling appointments with licensed professionals. To schedule an appointment, call 407-823-2811. If you want to engage in video conferencing,听you will need to speak to a counselor to discuss options and process.
• : A self-guided interactive, web-based program that provides assistance to help overcome anxiety, depression and other concerns.
• TAO Treatment: Through this web-based program clients will watch videos, complete exercises and听meet with a therapist听via videoconferencing for a 10 to 15 minute appointment, weekly.
• TAO Mindfulness Library: Online exercises and videos are available to everyone.

Starting April 13, every Monday and Thursday听麻豆原创 RESTORES will also host Facebook Live sessions for people in need about sleep hygiene, stress management, problem solving, peer support and more.

Extended Summer Service Program

From May 11 through Aug. 7, CAPS is extending its services to Knights who are not currently enrolled on a low fee for service basis. This includes the following groups, only if the individual is currently living in state due to Florida licensing restrictions:

• 麻豆原创 students who are not enrolled for Summer 2020 but were enrolled in Spring 2020 and will be enrolled in Fall 2020.
• Students who graduated Spring 2020
• Incoming 麻豆原创 student听who plan to begin in Fall 2020 and have completed orientation and course registration.

CAPS clinicians will provide single session therapy, initial assessments, individual counseling, group counseling and TAO treatment (Therapist Assisted Online) through telemental health for a fee ($30 for individual sessions; $15 for each group session; $5 for TAO Treatment session).听听Call CAPS at 407-823-2811 to see if you are eligible for CAPS听Extended听Summer Services听program.

Expert Tips

Karen Hofmann, a licensed psychologist and director of 麻豆原创鈥檚 CAPS, also suggests a few actions to practice as you navigate the current realities.

• Allow yourself to feel: There is so much change and loss of what was predictable. Every person had set plans of some sort for the near future, such as vacations, visits with friends and celebrations. Quarantining is extremely necessary at this time, but that does not mean you shouldn鈥檛 feel the grief and loss of the things we once early anticipated. Allow yourself to feel those things and move forward.
• Stay present: Although there are a lot of unknowns at this time it鈥檚 important you don鈥檛 allow fears about things that are out of your control to consume you. Focus on the things you can control and are grateful for now. Worrying means you鈥檙e too focused on the future, so mindfulness and meditation can help you stay present.
• Establish a routine: Having a routine can help you gain a sense of control and develop your 鈥渘ew normal.鈥� It can also help you to stay motivated in your classes. Try starting your days by doing things that are productive, such as studying or yoga, take time to get some fresh air throughout the day and save fun, relaxing activities for later. Ultimately each person is different and you have to find the right schedule for you.
• Set boundaries: For some, staying home may be difficult due to a toxic environment, but setting boundaries and saying 鈥淣o鈥� when you can may be helpful. Keeping yourself busy and getting outside for a break are some other practices.
• Stay connected: Social distancing does not mean social isolation. You can still stay connected to friends, family and a network of support through phone calls, texting, video chatting and social platforms. When you are experiencing stress, sadness, worry or anything else, talking to someone can always help you work through whatever you鈥檙e dealing with.

Additional tips for . For more information on CAPS and its available services, visit

鈥淔or us, it wasn鈥檛 about the money or the reward. We just wanted to be able to get students the help they need.鈥� 鈥撎鼳lexander Figoli, 麻豆原创 student

Modo Labs is the most adopted Higher Education mobile app platform in the country and has been the platform behind the since 2016. The company hosted the competition this year to promote problem-solving, team-building and creativity on college campuses. Sophomores Alexander Figoli and David Russell earned first place for their Spirit app, which organizes information on campus resources, services and programs provided by in one easy source for students to access. The team was the only one to develop an idea based on mental health, which was one of the suggested challenge themes for the competition. They say their interest in the topic developed as they鈥檝e seen suicide rates increase among young adults in recent years, with one case on campus in December.

鈥淔or us, it wasn鈥檛 about the money or the reward. We just wanted to be able to get students the help they need,鈥� Figoli says. 鈥淲e thought mental health was a very big issue that can affect your physical health and grades as well. There are some kids on campus who might be feeling alone and might have a hard time finding support 鈥斕齟specially since we鈥檙e no longer living with our parents.鈥�

鈥淲hen I heard the first syllables of our team name being called 鈥斕齮he rush of excitement was overwhelming.鈥� 鈥� David Russell, 麻豆原创 student

During the weekend competition, which was organized at 麻豆原创 by the , students developed their apps using software that brings their ideas to life through images, links and interactive buttons. The program required no coding, which Russell, a marketing major, says was a relief since he and Figoli, a mechanical engineering major, have no coding experience.

鈥淚 was definitely expecting third or second because I knew our app looked really good, but not first place,鈥� Russell says. 鈥淲hen I heard the first syllables of our team name being called 鈥斕齮he rush of excitement was overwhelming,鈥� Russell says.

Figoli and Russell will work to further develop their app by adding features, such as opt-in notifications that would send users motivational quotes and videos, before the national competition June 17 to 20 at MIT. The eight teams to compete are from 麻豆原创, California State University at Bakersfield, Cypress College, Florida State University, Maine Maritime Academy, North Carolina University, Texas A&M University and University of California at Berkeley.

While students were able to submit ideas on any topic, some of the other suggested themes included housing insecurity, food insecurity and financial challenges. Most of the students who participated at 麻豆原创鈥檚 competition developed ideas relating to sustainability and campus involvement.

鈥淗aving the opportunity to work on a project I believe in, and with a friend at that, feels like no work at all.鈥� 鈥撎鼶enielle Abaquita, 麻豆原创 student

The app developed by first-year computer science majors Denielle Abaquita and Oliver Casey earned second place with its听focus on 听sustainability and lessening environmental impacts.

鈥淗aving the opportunity to work on a project I believe in, and with a friend at that, feels like no work at all. It was an enjoyable experience,鈥� Abaquita says.

First-year psychology major Jullianna Stalbaum and interactive-entertainment graduate students Daniel Selvia and Pratik Chougule took third place for the Servant Knights app, which aimed to help students find organizations on campus that focus on volunteering and philanthropy.

鈥淥ur goal was to make a more convenient and effective resource for students to discover ways to get involved in the community through servant leadership,鈥� Selvia says.

The 麻豆原创 Student Union hosted a relief drive Oct. 12鈥�15 and received an assortment of donated items, including nonperishable food, water and clothes from students and the community.

The drive was part of a larger local effort organized by Gray/Robinson law firm, which partnered with Sorensen Moving and Storage for a delivery truck, Centerplate food and beverage corporation for pallets of water and food, and 麻豆原创. The firm posted regular updates to its Facebook page on its journey to hard-hit Port St. Joe, which is nearly 100 miles southwest of Tallahassee and just 12 miles from Mexico Beach, where the storm first made landfall.

麻豆原创 President Dale Whittaker tweeted a message of gratitude for the generous support and quick turnaround to ensure the supplies could help those in need in a timely manner.

麻豆原创 Police Commander Scott Freeman 鈥�11 is leading a group of three other officers who traveled to the Panhandle to volunteer in conjunction with the Florida Police Chiefs Association. Their current mission is to provide security at a law enforcement annex and maintain the safekeeping of the weapons and equipment that the facility stores.

Another team of four 麻豆原创PD officers is expected to deploy Friday to relieve the current team.

Any 麻豆原创 students or staff from the impacted counties who have been affected by the storm are encouraged to reach out to support organizations on campus.

Students can contact Counseling and Psychological Services鈥� 24/7 crisis line at 407-823-2811. Employees who have concerns or anxiety related to the weather or who are in emotional crisis can contact 麻豆原创鈥檚 employee-assistance program, HealthAdvocate, for assistance. Eligible employees and their dependents can receive free, confidential assistance by calling 877-240-6863.

Continued Support

If you’d like to support recovery efforts, Volunteer Florida is the the state’s lead agency for volunteerism and service.

There are also a number of charities you can听contribute to听that will help support relief efforts in the aftermath of the storm. It is important to verify an organization鈥檚 credibility before donating.

Charity Navigator, an organization that evaluates charities, has a page that includes the names of reputable charities. 鈥淩elief for Hurricane Michael鈥� is listed at the top of the web page鈥檚 Hot Topics tab.

The expo, a Healthy Knights 2020 initiative, is a collaboration between Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Health Services, Wellness and Health Promotion Services, Recreation and Wellness Center, 麻豆原创 Cares and several other Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services鈥� departments. Community partners include the National Association of Mental Illness of Greater Orlando and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

The week of October 2-8 is also Mental Illness Awareness Week. Join the campaign to turn stigma into hope, and promote acceptance and actively challenge social stereotypes. Students will have an opportunity at the Counseling and Psychological Services鈥� table to take a pledge to:

1. Learn about mental health issues
2. See the person not the illness
3. Take action on mental health issues.

Anyone can go online to review the commitment and take the pledge to raise awareness: https://www.nami.org/stigmafree.

The Healthy Knights Expo will offer health and wellness information and provide free flu shots to students courtesy of Student Health Services.

CAPS will offer opportunities for the students to learn about mental health issues as well as increase awareness around emotional literacy. Students can talk with clinicians about services and programs offered through the center.

Smoke Free 麻豆原创 will be on site to educate students about the smoke-free policy on campus, the risks of secondhand smoke and resources available for those ready to quit.

Wellness and Health Promotion Services will provide information about HIV testing and sexual health related resources as well as promote the FreshU campaign for growing your own healthy foods.

The Recreation and Wellness Center will share its exciting programs and conduct several demonstrations of fitness classes which are offered at the center.

Knightro will make an appearance, get his flu shot, join an exercise demo with the RWC instructors and have a great time taking photos with students.

Bodhi, CAPS animal assisted therapy dog, will be present to enjoy meeting new students and putting a smile on everyone鈥檚 face.

While waiting in line for the flu shot, students can enjoy free fresh fruit and fruit smoothies from Smoothie King.

The expo is also an opportunity for student groups such as the Student Health Advisory Committee [SHS]; and Peer Educators [WHPS and CAPS] to participate and talk with their peers about health and wellness related services and resources.

Additional activities will include fun coloring activities, a meditative drumming circle, and games such as pool, ping pong and fuse ball.

Overall, the Expo is expected to be a huge success and is expected to impact more than 1,000 students. This collaboration of departments including 麻豆原创 Cares within the Division of SDES is an informative way to share all the resources available to students to help them be happy, healthy and successful.

The students from all corners of the globe 鈥� from Spain to South Korea to Libya and beyond 鈥� are all in a 麻豆原创 English Language Institute communication skills class, and on this day they were part of the first drum-empowerment outreach at the campus鈥� new Global 麻豆原创 building.

Sitting in a circle with a variety of drums, the 10 students were led by Christine Dassow, a student-counseling specialist from the university鈥檚 Counseling & Psychological Services. The goals of the exercise, she said, are primarily to familiarize the international students far from home with the 麻豆原创 counselors in case they ever need them, help relieve any stress the students may have experienced here, and give them more confidence to advocate for themselves on campus.

When Nicole Ianieri, director of the institute, asked the students if any of them come from cultures that use drums a lot, most of them raised their hands.

鈥淣o one here today is expected to have any talent or experience,鈥� Dassow told the students before they grabbed either an African 鈥渢alking drum,鈥� djembe, versa timbaus, or frame drum. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about having fun and getting the stress out and feeling better when you leave here.鈥�

The drum session started slowly as the students pounded out a rhythm and took turns saying their names. Afterward, Dassow introduced new instructions with each round of drumming, sometimes working in call-and-response, sometimes with varying volume, sometimes in syncopation and sometimes not.

But all of the rounds ended in laughter.

鈥淚t was amazing,鈥� said Mohamed Mohamed, a first-year student from Sudan majoring in cyber information security. 鈥淲e need to relax and feel comfortable with people at the same time. I hope we could have this class every week. It鈥檚 going to help.鈥�

Fatemah Tuwainah, another first-year-student from Kuwait majoring in computer engineering, said this was her 鈥渇irst time drumming like that together 鈥� with others and freely. I felt positivity and a connection with my classmates.鈥�

Tuwainah said that even though she鈥檚 only been in the United States a month, she has felt the challenges of being away from home and striving to succeed in class.

鈥淭his did help with the stress,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 a nice change to just listening to lectures.鈥�

Dassow has long used music in her counseling sessions, but this is the first time she鈥檚 taken her drums out of her office to work with a group on campus. She thought this would be a good outreach opportunity for students unfamiliar with 麻豆原创鈥檚 counseling services.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a universal instrument. And I love that they鈥檙e interested in the drums and not shy with them,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t feels good to get out that energy and feels good to get out that stress.鈥�

At the end of the session, she directed the students to do what they wanted on the drums for one minute: 鈥淒o whatever you want. It could be a different beat, but we鈥檙e all bonded together. You鈥檒l be in rhythm because we鈥檙e all in this 驳谤辞耻辫.鈥�

True to her words, some of them played fast and others played faster. Some slapped the drum head with their palms, others with fists; some hit the center while others grazed the edges. But eventually they settled into a joint rhythm, all of them in unison.

And when Dassow signaled to stop, they erupted in laughter 鈥� all bonded together.

Christine Dassow of the 麻豆原创 Counseling & Psychological Services office will hold drum-empowerment workshops for other students Oct. 11 and Nov. 8. The one-hour sessions for wellness and stress reduction start at 1 p.m. at 4090 Libra Drive and have a limited number of spaces. Arrive up to 30 minutes before the session to sign up at the front desk. Drums will be provided.

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鈥淚 definitely get coffee, I have to have a coffee break,鈥� said Duncan, a senior majoring in radio and television. 鈥淚f I鈥檓 studying a lot, I take a break and get on Facebook for a second. But if I do that, sometimes I distract myself for hours so I try to get everything done at once.鈥�

Finals started this week and combined with prepping for the holiday season it can be a stressful time. But 麻豆原创 tries its best to help students get through it with everything from turning the Student Union into a 24-hour Study Union to counseling services, and then there鈥檚 always Zumba class at the Recreation and Wellness Center.

Through Dec. 15, the Student Union becomes Study Union and stays open 24 hours. The extended hours provide students with a space to prepare for exams. During this time, the Student Academic Resource Center relocates its services to the Student Union, holding nonstop review sessions before final exams. Each subject session is led by a knowledgeable reviewer in one of the Student Union meeting spaces. A number of sessions will also be live streamed and posted to the SARC YouTube channel for later viewing.

To view the schedule visit SARC at: .

Counseling and Psychological Services runs a series of workshops and programs to help students year round. It also has an after-hour crisis hotline that students can use if they need help. The line is dedicated to helping students experiencing distress and who need someone to talk with whether it is in the middle of the night or on the weekend. Students can call the counseling center鈥檚 main number 407-823-2811 and press 5 and they will be connected to a licensed therapist.

And because 麻豆原创 cares about the entire well-being of its students, 麻豆原创 Police鈥檚 Safe Escort Patrol Service has modified its hours to accommodate late-night studying. Escorts will be available to walk with students from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. today, 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Dec.11-12, and 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Dec. 13-14. Call 407-823-2424 during escort hours.

Many students, especially those who have a few semesters under their belt, come up with their own de-stressing rituals.

For Amanda Vitaglian, a sophomore majoring in biomedical sciences, watching movies or television series is key to keeping her sanity.

Amanda Vitaglian

鈥淚 watch a lot of Netflix and sleep,鈥� Vitaglian said. 鈥淚鈥檓 binging on the Walking Dead right now. That鈥檚 about all I get to do right now because I work two jobs.”

For Jujuan Lyons, television is the last thing he turns to for stress relief.

鈥淚 like to play basketball to de-stress,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 play IM (intramurals), but we just finished, so I go out to the Towers Court and play.鈥�

Jujuan Lyons

Others take advantage of the last few days of exercises classes such as Zumba and kickboxing.

Many students said the key to surviving finals and all the holiday hype is to mix studying with mini-breaks and a good dose of humor.