Disclaimer

The information contained in the various internet resources is NOT intended to substitute for help from a mental health professional. *Providing these links does not indicate endorsement by Counseling Services or VCSU. 

For personal assistance or follow-up questions/concerns, please contact Counseling Services or click to schedule an appointment.

Important Resources and Contact Information

Resource Guides

• Valley City Health and Wellness Resource Guide
• Jamestown Area Health and Wellness Resource Guide
• Fargo-Moorhead Resource List 2025
• Bismarck and Surrounding Area Resources

Academic Services & Tutoring

• Student Academic Services provides consultation and advice regarding academic issues, e.g. creating a personal course schedule, course drop/add, adding or changing majors/minors/certificates, and changing advisors. 
• Viking Learning Commons

ADD/ADHD

• Resources for College Students with ADD/ADHD (ADDA)
• Tips for Going to College with ADHD (Child Mind Institute)

Adjusting to College - Transitioning

• My College Transition - The Foundation for Art and Healing
• Mental Health in College - The Jed Foundation

Alcohol & Substance Abuse (Addiction)

• Alcohol and Other Drug Information (VCSU OneStop)
• Children of Alcoholics Resources (American Addiction Center)
• Alcohol and Sleep (Sleep Foundation)
• NDUS Bulletin Substance Use
• Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centers in North Dakota
• VCSU CHOICES PowerPoint

Anger Management

• Anger & Anger Management (American Psychological Association)

Anxiety

• NIMH Generalized Anxiety Information
• Social Anxiety/Phobia Association 
• Anxiety Network
• Managing Test Anxiety (Brown University)
• NDUS Bulletin Anxiety

Apps 

• Calm - Sleep, Meditation, & Relaxation
• Headspace - Meditation, Sleep, Stress, and Mindfulness
• Insight Timer - Sleep, Anxiety, & Stress
• Meditopia: Anxiety & Breathing App
• Simple Habit - Wellness & Sleep App
• Sleep Booster

Autism

• College Autism Network
• Students with Autism: Online Resources & Support

Burnout

• The Village Webinars: https://www.thevillagefamily.org/services/village-business-institute/webinars#burnout
• Brene Brown Podcast Episode: Burnout and How to Complete the Stress Cycle: https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-with-emily-and-amelia-nagoski-on-burnout-and-how-to-complete-the-stress-cycle/
• Southern New Hampshire University: How to Avoid College Burnout: https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/education/college-burnout

Career Counseling

• The Career Services office provides VCSU students with countless resources relating to employment, internships, international study or work, and graduate studies. Whether you’re looking for on-campus employment or advice on an upcoming interview, our knowledgeable staff can provide direction. 

Coping with Stress

• 99 Coping Skills List
• Coping with College Stress (American Addiction Centers)
• How to Cope: Stress in College Students (WGU)
• NDUS Bulletin Burnout & Stress

Coping with COVID-19

• NDUS Bulletin Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health

Depression

• NIMH Depression Information
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
• NDUS Bulletin Depression

Disability Support Services

• OneStop VCSU Disability Support Services

Diversity & Inclusion

• The Office of Diversity and Inclusion supports and advocates for VCSU’s students, faculty, and staff who are Black, Indigenous, or other People of Color (BIPoC); those who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender, Pan-Sexual, Gender Queer, Or Asexual (LGBTQIA+); people of minoritized spiritual and religious beliefs; First Generation College Students; immigrants; and those who are economically under resourced. We also support and advocate for issues of gender bias and body positivity. 

Eating Disorders & Body Image

• College and Body Image (Eating Disorder Hope)
• NDUS Bulletin Eating Disorders
• National Alliance for Eating Disorders - Free, Therapist-led Support Groups for Eating Disorders

Emotional Support Animal

• VCSU Emotional Support Animal Policy

Faculty & Staff Information

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Going Home for the Holidays

• You CAN Go Home for the Holidays... (VCSU)
• ‘Singing the Blues’… What are the Holiday Blues and do they really exist? (VCSU)

Gratitude

• Gratitude Exercises
• Gratitude Journal

Grief & Loss

• Tips for Grieving College Students (Healgrief.org)

Group Counseling

• Group counseling, workshops, seminars, consultations, and referrals are also provided by the counseling staff. 

Homesickness

• How to deal with homesickness in college: https://mhanational.org/how-deal-homesickness-college (MHA)
• Homesickness in college students: https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/homesickness-in-college/(bestcolleges)

LGBTQ, Sexuality, & Sexual Orientation

• VCSU Safe Zone Ally

• The “Safe Zone” symbol is a message to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people and their allies. The message is that the person displaying this symbol is understanding, supportive, and trustworthy if a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender person needs help, advice, or just someone with whom s/he can talk. The person displaying the symbol can also give accurate information about sexual orientation and/or gender identity. 
• Stress Responses & Gender
• The Trevor Project - The Trevor Project is the world's largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people. FREE 24/7 Crisis Hotline: 866-488-7386

Loneliness

• NDUS Bulletin Loneliness & Relationships

Mindfulness, Meditation, & Relaxation

• Mindfulness Meditation With Guided Body Relaxation (44 min) (NDSU)
• Brief mindful breathing exercise (5 min) (NDSU)
• Short Mindfulness Meditation With Guided Body Relaxation (29 min) (NDSU)
• Calm Abiding Meditation With Guided Body Relaxation (42 minutes) (NDSU)
• Short Calm Abiding Meditation With Guided Body Relaxation (25 Minutes) (NDSU)

• Relaxation Techniques
  
  

• External Site Audio Meditations

  
  

  • Guided Self-Compassion Meditations
  • Meditations From The Book "Sitting Together"

Parents, Guardians, & Family

• Parent Guide for Transitioning High School Student to College (transitionyear.org)

Referral for Mental Health

Relationships

• Breaking up with a loved one is never easy to do. Being in love is a good thing, but not being loved in return is not. One should judge his/her partner by what he/she says, as well as what he/she does. Any type of mistreatment or abuse whether it be physical or emotional is a sign of an unhealthy relationship. Certain behaviors can make a relationship unstable. Some Include:
  • refusing to communicate
  • ignoring issues
  • verbal put downs
  • not showing affection
  • not keeping promises
• Long Distance Relationships in College: Original Source of the Statistical research for long-distance-relationships: https://bedbible.com/long-distance-relationship-statistics/
• Assertiveness (North Carolina State University)
• Relationship Compatibility List
• 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
• Maintaining Healthy Relationships in College (College Express)

Screen Fatigue

• VCSU Counseling Services Screen Fatigue Presentation
• Why Our Screens Make Us Less Happy (Adam Atler: TedTALK)

Self-Care

• Self-Care (North Carolina State University)
• Self-Care Tips List
• NDUS Bulleting Self-Care
• Active Minds Self-Care and Mental Health Statistics

Self-Esteem

• In today's society, humans often do not view themselves positively. They need to find the positive traits in themselves by looking at what they have accomplished, not what they have not accomplished. Self-esteem is their self-image, or how they feel about themselves. There are many factors that affect their self-esteem level. The more positive these are, the higher their self-esteem will be.
  • stable home life
  • social life
  • school
  • society
  • on the job
• Tips for College Students to Beat Low Self-Esteem (College Basics)

Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence

• Date Rape is the act of pressuring and forcing someone to have sex. Anyone can be raped--men and women, and anyone could be the rapist--classmate or co-worker. Many assume a rapist to be a stranger when statistics show that 84% of the raped women knew their rapist. No one deserves to be raped and that's why everyone should be aware and protect themselves.
  • express self limitations
  • beware of alcohol and/or drug abuse
  • stay clear of secluded areas
  • have own transportation
• CAWS North Dakota: Ending Sexual and Domestic Violence
• Abused Persons Outreach Center (APOC) in Valley City

Sleep & Health

• Sleep Hygiene (Sleep Foundation)
• Stages of Sleep (Sleep Foundation)
• Sleep Linked to Mental Health in College Students & Athletes (AASM)

Spring Break Safety

• RAINN Spring Break Safety Tips

Student Athletes

• Mind, Body, & Sport (NCAA)

Study Skills & Test Anxiety

• Study Skills Info (Virginia Tech) - (On Virginia Tech website--see sidebar for more links on specific tips)

Stress & Stress Management

• Coping with Everyday Problems (VCSU)
• FAQ about Mental Health Following Stressful Events (flood) (VCSU)
• Reducing Stress in Your Life (NDSU/VCSU)

Suicide & Self-Harm

• There is no apparent answer as to why people take their own lives. Many factors can make people contemplate suicide.
  • depression
  • loss of a relationship
  • unstable home life

• Suicide could be prevented if these warning signs are detected.

  • previous attempt
  • giving prized possessions away
  • withdraws from family/friends
  • threat of suicide--written or verbal
  • Misuse or abuse of alcohol and/or other drugs
• The Columbia Lighthouse Project
• Understanding Suicide Prevention (Best Colleges)
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center 
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• National Suicide Prevention Hotline
• NDUS Bulletin Suicide

Trauma

• The Effects of Trauma on the Brain (TedTalk)

ULifeline

• ULifeline- Resources for College Mental Health
  • VCSU is not currently listed, however, that does NOT prevent you from accessing the online materials.

Wellness

• Dimensions of Wellness Assessment (University of Colorado)
• VCSU 8 Dimensions of Wellness Wheel
• Healthy Living (University of Chicago)
• Take Control of your Time (VCSU)
• SMART Goal Setting (VCSU)