Coping During COVID-19

COVID-19 continues to impact the lives of Cornell students in a variety of ways. In addition to the normal pressures and challenges students often face, you might also be experiencing a myriad of emotions related to living through a global pandemic and its impact on your health, well-being, and college experience. 

The good news is there are many things you can do to support and maintain your mental health, even during these uncertain times. Please refer to the information and resources below for self-care tips and online support.

And if you're struggling, help is available. Options for support are listed the bottom of this page.

Self-care tips

• Start each day with intentionality – Ask yourself these three questions: What will help me to feel healthy today? What will help me to feel connected today? What will give me a sense of purpose today?
• Prioritize self-care – Try to get enough sleep, eat well, and get in some exercise.
• Connect with others – Find ways to stay socially connected, even if you need to physically distance. 
• Experience nature – Enjoy Cornell's natural beauty. Research shows the time in nature supports good mental health. 
• Learn to meditate – Attend an online Let's Meditate session, or try another meditation resource listed below.
• Limit social media & news consumption – Too much can have a negative impact on your mental health.

Visit the Health Topics section of our website for more tips and information about stress management, building resilience, depression and anxiety, and more.

Thrive (don't just survive) at Cornell 

Students are invited to self-enroll in Thrive (don’t just survive) @ Cornell, an online resilience-based, stress-management course developed specifically for the Fall 2021-Spring 2022 academic year. This program is designed to provide students with a variety of tips, tools, and resources to help them develop habits to support their mental health and well-being in order to successfully navigate their time at Cornell.

Enroll in Thrive (don't just survive) @Cornell (course for undergraduate students, or course for graduate/professional students).

"Let's Meditate" online guided meditation

Let's Mediate is a free, guided, mindfulness meditation series offered every day, Monday through Friday during the academic year. Sessions are 30 minutes, and are conducted by Zoom.

See the Let's Meditate schedule here.

Self-care resources

Support from Cornell Health

24/7 phone consultation

Students can call us (607-255-5155) any time, day or night, to speak with a licensed therapist from ProtoCall, our 24/7 support team of mental health professionals. ProtoCall therapists are experienced in providing support for common concerns experienced by college students, and can also refer you to other resources, when appropriate. (Consultation in different languages is available.)

Mental health services

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers the following services to support students:

• Let's Talk drop-in consultation 
• CAPS-led workshops 
• Individual counseling
• Group counseling 

Learn more about our mental health services. 

Teladoc telehealth services

Students enrolled in a Student Health Plan (SHP or SHP+) have prepaid access to Teladoc, which includes mental health and other telehealth services for individuals in the United States. Copays are consistent with the plans’ participating provider copay structure. (Students with private insurance may have coverage for Teladoc's services, but should check their plan for details.) Learn more about Teladoc.

Other ways to get support at Cornell

Visit Mental Health at Cornell for campus-wide information about ways to get support, health others, practice self-care, and get involved in the campus community.

24/7 chat & text support 

You can also connect with someone now through one of these recommended hotlines or textlines, including options especially for BIPOC students and LGBTQ students.