Emotional

a young woman smiling while speaking to her friend
Explore the connection between emotional wellbeing and physical health.

Why is your emotional health important?

Why is having a good self-image, practicing stress management techniques, and developing a positive attitude important for a university student? Studies have shown that taking care of your emotional health will lead to better overall health, wellbeing, and performance.[1] On the flip side, UBC undergraduates report that stress is the number one health and wellness reason for academic difficulties.[2] This means that everything from your immune system to your grades is affected by your feelings and moods. So look into these resources to improve your emotional health and you will see the benefits in many areas of your life.

Learn How to Manage Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety are, to some degree, a normal part of life. Try different ways of managing stress and anxiety until you find one that works for you. Meditation, yoga, exercise, and social time are positive ways of managing stress. Check out the following articles on Live Well, Learn Well for more information:

Other helpful resources:

Peer support:

Understand and learn how to manage your mood

Everyone experiences some ups and downs in mood.  Learn more about mood and how to manage mood problems by checking out the following articles on Live Well, Learn Well:

Other helpful resources:

Who to talk to:

Talking to someone can help. If you don’t have someone you feel comfortable confiding in, check out Youth in BC, a website that offers support by chat or e-mail.

If these strategies and resources aren’t enough, get counselling support. Counselling Services offers several group programs to help you manage your mood, as well as individual counselling.

You can also speak to a physician at Student Health Service.

For urgent help after hours call the Crisis Centre at 1-800-SUICIDE (1.800.784.2433)

Learning how to manage other mental health concerns

If you wish to receive assistance with disability-related accommodations:

Access & Diversity provides disability-related academic accommodations for students with disabilities who have registered with the UBC Access and Diversity.

For concerns related to discrimination or harassment:

Visit the UBC Equity Office. An Equity Advisor can provide steps you can take to address these concerns.

A note on finding other reliable resources on the Internet:

If you search for "emotional health" or any health topic, on the Internet, look for reliable sources that are supported by trained professionals, as opposed to sites that are out to make money, or promote dubious claims.

[1] Slaski, M. & Cartwright, S. (2003). Emotional intelligence training and its implications for stress, health and performance. Stress and Health, 19, 233-239. DOI: 10.1002/smi.979.
[2] National College Health Assessment Survey, UBC, 2009.
Tagged stress , anxiety , emotional , other-mental-wellbeing-topics , fatigue

Related articles

a place of mind, The Univeristy of British Columbia

Enrolment Services
Student Development & Services
2016-1874 East Mall
Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z1

Emergency Procedures | Accessibility | Contact UBC | © Copyright The University of British Columbia