StudentHandbook

College strives to foster well-rounded, compassionate health care providers who flourish in all aspects of life. There are two general rules of thumb when dealing with distress:

1. Don’t be afraid to ask for help; 2. Ask for help as soon as you feel the symptoms of distress.

Common symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, and other common mental health illnesses, can be found here: Symptoms

You can take simple yet important steps towards improving your mental well-being. Often times, just talking with someone about issues that may be causing distress offers major relief. Proven methods that you can implement to increase positive mental well-being include mindfulness and managing cognitive distortions. For more information on these methods, visit Cognitive Distortions (PDF) Some students, however, may need more structured assistance. We offer a host of services to help students who may be experiencing some kind of distress in their lives. 11th Floor Safe Zone The office of Student Affairs offers a supportive, friendly safe zone with strict privacy. Regarding any issues you may be experiencing--school-related or not--you can make appointments to speak with: Gui Albieri: galbieri@sunyopt.edu Mental Health Professional Counseling Talking with a counselor or therapist has shown to alleviate stress symptoms and is an effective way to help you reach solutions for problems that may be causing stress. Counselors offer individual and group counseling for a range of concerns, such as: stress, anxiety, depression, difficulty adjusting, eating concerns, relationship issues, grief, etc… All health information discussed is confidential. To schedule an appointment, contact Dr. Nirav Soni, Licensed Psychologist, at niravsoniphd@gmail.com Gouverneur Healthcare Services: major health insurances accepted, including Medicaid. Students without health insurance can get treatment and will be charged according to a sliding scale. Contact the Office of Student Affairs for more info. Tea Chats The College offers workshops throughout the year called Tea Chats on topics such as stress management, sleep hygiene, and test anxiety. We strongly encourage all students to attend these workshops. Interfaith Prayer and Meditation Room The College's interfaith prayer and meditation room (Rm #1220) is meant to serve and accommodate students of all beliefs and to support the holistic wellness of the College community. This room is accessible to the community Monday through Friday throughout the day. If the room is locked please see Focrun Nahar (Rm# 1230) or Ms. Ayana Wint in the President's suite for access. Jackie Martinez: jmartines@sunyopt.edu Christian Alberto: calberto@sunyopt.edu **Walk-ins are also welcome!

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