Self Help & Resources

While experts believe most Americans do not get sufficient sleep, university students are among the most sleep deprived in the population.

• You can’t will yourself to sleep, but you can do things to facilitate falling asleep and train yourself to fall asleep.
• The Sleep Foundation
• Sleep apps from Healthline

Useful Sleep Apps from Tuck in Seattle, WA.

8 Tips to Avoid Procrastination >

​5 Signs It’s Depression, Not Just Sadness

1. You feel empty

   ​Sadness can certainly be a sign, but once you start experiencing an empty feeling you might be able to tell that it’s depression.

2. You’re way more irritable than usual

   Feelings of restlessness or excessive irritability can be signs of depression.

3. You’re getting really thin

   If you experience significant weight loss without trying, or without a diet, you could be depressed.

4. You’re thinking about death

   ​If you find yourself focusing on death or suicide, with or without a specific plan, seek help. You may very likely be depressed.

5. ​You’re having trouble concentrating

   ​Depression can make it harder for you to focus on tasks at hand and can also make it more difficult for you to make decisions.

   Realize that depression is treatable. If you are not in treatment, make an appointment at Counseling and Psychological Services. You can walk in or call 973-408-3398.

MHA DEPRESSION TEST > 

BE AN UPSTANDER (STAND UP!) NOT A BYSTANDER…

As members of the Drew Community, we all share the responsibility to create a climate of respect – for each other and ourselves. We can often intervene in situations where someone’s safety is being threatened by their own or someone else’s behavior. You have many opportunities for intervention before a situation progresses and becomes a crisis. We can all do our part to prevent racism, sexism, heterosexism, interpersonal violence, bullying, sexual assault, alcohol or drug poisoning.

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE INTERVENTION

• Diffusion of responsibility (“Lots of people are around. Someone else will probably do something about it.”)
• It’s unclear that there is an emergency
• Perceived personal cost is too high
• The perception that the prospective victim is inviting danger by being drunk, dressing provocatively, etc.
• Similarities between the bystander and the potential offender (Someone who shares a lot in common with a potential offender will be less likely to act against them)
• Apathetic mood
• The bystander’s gender may influence their perception of whether it’s appropriate to get involved
• Social norms (Intervening is easier when peers are nearby to approve of your actions)

ABCS OF INTERVENTION

• ASSESS Safety and Risk – nonverbal and non-verbal cues will help you determine whether there is a problem or risky situation. E.g. if you observe someone too intoxicated to protect themselves from being taken advantage of; or if someone seems to be overpowered by another, being cut off, looking cornered; determine if there seems to be a risk of physical violence.
• BRING in reinforcements – you don’t have to act alone. Ask friends to accompany you to intervene. Contact an CA or CRE. Call Public Safety’s 24-hour emergency number: 973-408-3379.
• CARE for the person at risk or victim; Don’t leave someone at risk alone, get them to a safe place. If the person has been victimized help them find resources/options. Be a listening ear. Listen to their fears and concerns for safety. Pay attention to cries for help and take action. While caring for others, remember to care for yourself. Don’t try to do everything yourself, get your friend to use professional help. You can bring them to the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services or come in yourself to talk. Counseling is confidential!
• CONFRONT the potential perpetrator if you deem it safe. Challenge sexist, homophobic, racist, or disrespectful language. Don’ t let someone take a person away when they appear unable to consent to leave because of force, intoxication, or pressure. Don’t do this alone if you don’t feel safe! Don’t argue with drunk people.

STRATEGIES WHEN FACED WITH POSSIBLE SEXUAL ASSAULT

• CHALLENGE the potential assailant before the assault happens.
• DISTRACT either party by focusing their attention on something else.
• SEPARATE the potential victim from the potential attacker.
• DELEGATE to someone in a better position to help.

DIRECT OR INDIRECT INTERVENTIONS

• Direct Actions: Point out someone’s disrespectful behavior in a manner that will help de-escalate the situation, pull a friend aside and talk tothem alone to ensure he/she is okay, call the police
• Indirect Action: Recommend to a bartender or party host that someone has had too much to drink, make up an excuse to help someone get away from a potential offender, and call the local authorities

Know your options. Once you’ve decided whether you want to handle the situation directly or indirectly (or a little of both), think of all the possible options for doing so. For instance, if you’ve decided to speak directly to the person displaying problematic behavior, do you want to do it right there in the moment, or take them aside later? If you want to deal with it indirectly, what resources can you access to help you handle the problem?

COURAGE?

It takes courage to challenge negative behavior. If you think it is too uncomfortable to intervene in a dangerous situation, remember: Not intervening does the offender a favor.

How a Digital Detox Can Help You >

Chronicle of Higher Education Student-Success Resource Center >

Self care is critical. Remember, fighting racism is a marathon, not a sprint. During a time of crisis, we can feel overwhelmed by the need to be urgently responding without respite.

• The Black Emotional And Mental Health Collective notes that “Black people are 7 times more likely to live in areas with limited access to mental health care… and only a third of Black people who need mental health services receive treatment.” Check out their website.
• TWLOHA has a list of mental health referrals that focus directly on the Black community.
• The Black Lives Matters organization has a resource page that includes a Healing Justice Toolkit and a Healing Action Toolkit.

DREW UNIVERSITY TITLE IX OFFICE >