{"id":1600,"date":"2026-10-02T09:00:24","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T16:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/?p=1600"},"modified":"2026-10-02T09:40:10","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T16:40:10","slug":"mental-health-resources-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/mental-health-resources-online\/","title":{"rendered":"Mental health resources for online students"},"content":{"rendered":"

3 tips to help manage stress and tap into Oregon State’s services<\/h2>\n

Balancing your Oregon State University coursework with work, family and everything else in your life isn\u2019t easy. Stress can build quickly, and when it does, knowing where to turn for support can make a real difference.<\/p>\n

OSU Ecampus students can access a range of mental health and student support services online. Here are three tips to help you prioritize wellness and find support<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tip 1: Explore your resources before you need them<\/h3>\n

Preventive measures are key when it comes to mental health, just as with physical health. When long-term stressors build up into an immediate emergency, it can become more challenging to identify effective strategies to address the problem.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally pay attention to your stress and what\u2019s going on academically, socially and personally, and try not to wait until the last minute to ask for help,\u201d said Marcey Bamba, the associate director of clinical services for OSU\u2019s Counseling and Psychological Services<\/a>. \u201cSee what your institution can offer you; understand the access that you have to resources here at Oregon State.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ecampus fisheries, wildlife, and conservation sciences advisor Susie Dunham suggests reaching out to an academic advisor or Ecampus success navigator<\/a> at the first signs of difficulty as academic hardship can often amplify struggles with mental health or self-worth.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a matter of helping students break down what\u2019s going on and asking them questions to pull out the key things that are getting in the way of school,\u201d Dunham said.<\/p>\n

In addition to connecting online students with mental health resources and acting as a pillar of support, advisors can also help students to identify course drop and withdrawal dates and other important information to save them time, money and emotional burden.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe they need to take a break or take a lighter load. Maybe they\u2019re putting too much pressure on themselves. Sometimes they just need someone to give them permission to take a break and reassess,\u201d Dunham said.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Immediate help when you need it<\/h2>\n

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline<\/a>. Trained crisis workers are available to talk 24\/7.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Tip 2: Explore several options to discover what works for you<\/h3>\n

Ecampus students living in Oregon can access face-to-face or limited distance counseling services<\/a> through CAPS.<\/p>\n

Ecampus students who live outside of Oregon are unable to receive ongoing counseling through OSU due to state licensing laws, but any Ecampus student can access free mental health assistance through TELUS Health<\/a> or find a local provider through Thriving Campus<\/a>. CAPS also maintains a list of mental health resources<\/a> for students who don\u2019t live in Oregon.<\/p>\n

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Not sure where to start?<\/h2>\n

These OSU mental health resources can guide you toward a balanced life as an online student:<\/p>\n