By Lynn Parliman, Head of Serials and Electronic Resources, and Luisa Porretta, Electronic and Continuing Resources Librarian

Life as a college student sometimes creates periods of overwhelming stress and difficulty coping. Has the past year of living within a pandemic created even more anxiety, fear, and strain on your mental health? You are not alone. In a recent survey published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, 71% of students polled indicated increased stress and anxiety due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Fordham’s Counseling and Psychological Services is always available to support Fordham students’ mental, psychological and emotional health and well-being. In addition, Fordham Libraries have some great resources that offer students information and guidance during their most vulnerable moments.

Gale Ebooks Mental Health and Wellness Collection

One library resource is the Gale Ebooks Mental Health and Wellness Collection. It contains fifteen titles spanning diverse topics, including suicide, panic disorders, LGBT psychology, socializing, deconstructing stigmas, the influence of race and culture, and more. These e-books are available to read 24/7 – anytime, anywhere, and on any device. Students can save and download audio files onto their mobile device. International and ESL students will benefit from translation in nearly 40 languages.

Below are a few selected e-books from this collection:

• Raising Mental Health Awareness in Higher Education: This book describes the current state of college students’ mental health in the United States, influences that contribute to wavering mental health, factors that promote flourishing mental health, and interventions that support mental health.
• Anxiety and Panic Attacks: This book tackles readers’ questions regarding anxiety and panic attacks, dispelling misconceptions and examining real-world scenarios that highlight important concepts and controversies.
• Mindfulness and Meditation: This guide explores definitions of mindfulness and meditation, offers solutions for successfully incorporating them into our often-chaotic lives, and explains their many practical applications.

If you’re interested in finding more resources on this topic, or need help accessing this collection, Ask A Librarian for assistance. And remember, Fordham’s Counseling and Psychological Services are always available if you need mental health support.