The life of a faculty member is filled with pressures and deadlines, and lacks the predictability of many other professions. While stress cannot be entirely eliminated, the resources in this section are designed to get faculty members started in the long-term process of recognizing and addressing stress to make it manageable. The following resources are a useful place to begin…

• The American Psychological Association has extensive resources on stress and stress management. 
• Helpguide.org provides extensive resources for stress management.
• You are not alone – stress and burnout statistics show that stress is an extremely common problem.

Self-Care

When we are feeling overwhelmed and stressed, there are things we can do to take care of ourselves and prioritize our health and wellness. Proper nutrition and adequate sleep are important. In addition, throughout your workday, some self-care ideas include building in breaks for exercise (e.g., join Drexel’s Walking Club), trying mindfulness or yoga (e.g., join the Drexel Meditation Group or take a Chair Yoga class), or meeting a colleague for coffee/tea or a healthy snack at Drexel’s City View Lounge. Drexel’s Career Pathway also offers online workshops on wellness and self-care. More information about these resources is available on HR’s Mental and Emotional Well-being page.

Counseling/Therapy

Counseling can also be an important source of support for our emotional and mental well-being. Drexel benefits-eligible faculty and their family members can take advantage of free in-person or virtual short-term (up to 6 sessions per person, per issue, per year) counseling with a licensed therapist through SupportLinc, Drexel’s Employee Assistance Program. Additional resources related to seeking professional counseling can be found on HR’s Mental and Emotional Well-being page.

Assisting a Colleague or Student in Distress

Statistics suggest that we all know someone at work who is experiencing psychological distress. Data from faculty surveys reported in the Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Ed indicate that, since the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 2/3 of faculty say they are stressed and fatigued. Similarly, study after study finds that undergraduate and graduate students are facing more mental health challenges. Learn to recognize common signs of distress, as well as steps you can take to assist a colleague or student in need. Bystander intervention is a critical part of building Drexel’s culture of belonging.

Learn more about how to assist a colleague or student in distress