Does your professional or academic space maintain your mental health? If so, what are some strategies they implement that assist or hinder your mental health? by Ashley Carpenter

holdenje — 2025-10-09 23:22:07 UTC

It hasn't happened often, but a handful of times when dealing with something very infuriating at work, I or another colleague has simply said "I'm going to take a walk" and then left for like 15-30 minutes. My supervisors are supportive and they get that this helps lower stress and anxiety.

kolbae — 2025-10-09 23:23:21 UTC

My workplace maintains mental health by allowing us "down time" after periods of high stress. After our peak fall registration period, we were allowed "down time" during our virtual days where we got to block off a few hours for personal time to recoup.

2025-10-09 23:24:03 UTC

I believe my workplace supports mental health by offering free counseling services for faculty and staff, as well as free to a gym facility to faculty and staff.

2025-10-09 23:24:06 UTC

Yes it does!

"Co-working"

Team walks/workouts

Team Treats/lunches

Flexible and rotating WFH days

2025-10-09 23:25:17 UTC

Assist:

Workplace Wellness Month (pet therapy day, guided meditations, decompression lounge).
Work from home days.

Hinder

Salary stinks and it doesn't matter how well you do your job, you're going to get paid the same as everyone else with the same classification.
They're going to start making SHRA employees clock in and out.

2025-10-09 23:25:46 UTC

Yes it does. It allows me flexibility when I need it. Also offers free counseling services and access to trainers and workouts. As much as I don't want to workout, it does help clear my mind.

2025-10-09 23:26:23 UTC

I don't really know that many details because I just started my new job... I get some freedom and flexibility which helps my mental health. There is an app you can download and talk to a chat thing and get resources, but I don't really know all the details. They have said the normal things like maintain your work life balance and have been kind and helpful.

2025-10-09 23:28:35 UTC

The Faculty of the Reich College of Ed. has been a huge eye opening outlier in comparison to my prior higher education experiences. All throughout undergrad as an elementary ed major, and now through graduate school, it is always astounding to realize the level of compassion afforded to students. I used to think this was an APP STATE characteristic, but I am beginning to realize it might just be a unique quality of the RCOE.

Earnestly Put Students Well-being and Mental Health First
Practice Empathy and Compassionate Care
Flexible and Responsive
Easy Going, Low Stress, Higher Order Thinking
Humanistic, Holistic, Altruistic

2025-10-09 23:29:27 UTC

My boss is pretty flexible with my schedule because I work weekends. For instance, because of fall break, we are closed this weekend which means I would have to work 2 weeks straight to make up hours. Fortunately I can use comp time in the moment if I want to and they don't mind. You already know I took Tuesday off for some respite. My sanity > being at work.

2025-10-09 23:29:41 UTC

The leadership in my office is adamant on keeping our work from home days even with other departments starting to require their employees to work in-office 5 days a week. Being able to work from home allows me to maintain a more consistent work/life balance than if I was in-office every day.

I am someone who hates being cooped up behind my desk all day and I often take walks throughout the day so I don't go insane. My supervisor noticed this and, if possible, we now conduct our 1:1 meetings during a walk around campus.

2025-10-09 23:29:48 UTC

The System Office launched Well-Being Coaching and Digital Self-Care Tools. It's part of the "If it matters to you, it matters" initiative.

We also have very flexible schedules, I've seen co-workers leave at 2:00pm to get their kids and it's fine. I can leave early so I can get to class.

The System understands we have lives and some of us have long commutes so that flexibility is appreciated as far as work/life balance is concerned.

2025-10-09 23:32:26 UTC

Yes. My academic spaces generally support my mental health by encouraging open dialogue, inclusion, and reflection. They show it by actually providing that "brave space" in the classroom and other environments around school. Work? I can't say I have ever had a workspace that values mental health. When competition or overwork replaces reflection and care, it can create stress and hinder well-being. But most of the work places I've worked in don't care. Mission accomplishment before troop welfare.

2025-10-09 23:33:13 UTC

I know that if an emergency happens I am able to take the space to handle that emergency. The leadership in my office is extremely supportive of me, even when things outside or in my control happens.

2025-10-09 23:35:27 UTC

I had colleagues encourage me to build in more buffers into my calendar instead of working back to back student appointments to match theirs for more balance in my schedule.

2025-10-09 23:35:45 UTC

Professionally, in theory, yes, but there are times when I have felt I just had to suck it up and do what was needed at the time. I would like to think that if I expressed that I needed to take care of myself, my supervisor would support me, and for the most part, I think he would. I jsut know there have been times where he was under a lot of pressure as well, and his behaviour kind of makes me feel like I'd better not say anything. As far as strategies, take a walk outside. Grounding - bare feet on the grass/ground. If it's cold outside, take a drive. Also, try taking some deep breaths. Specifically, take a breath in slowly at 4 counts and hold at the top of the breath for 4 counts and exhale slowly for 8 counts. Repeat as much as you feel you need.