For most of the students and faculty on the FDU campus, the switch to online courses and from spending hours outside with friends to having to stay at home as much as possible has been something never experienced before.

It has been about two weeks since the dawn of this reality, and it is important for student’s to get into a routine for the time being. However long it may end up lasting.

It is plausible that at least some students are still having trouble handling the anxiety from living through this pandemic. Luckily, the Student Counseling and Psychological Services (S-CAPS) are still doing their best to help students in any ways they can. 

Co-Director of S-CAPS Dr. David Mednick said in an email, “All Counselors will be available remotely.”

S-CAPS is currently taking phone consultations by appointment. Students can call the S-CAPS office at 201-692-2174 and leave a message during office hours Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to set up an appointment.

The voicemail is checked every two hours and students should expect a response call to be from a blocked or restricted number. Students can also email counselors for help.

Mednick also recommended other counseling services such as NJ Mental Health Cares which is providing help for people dealing with anxiety and worry from the COVID-19 pandemic. They can be reached with a call to 1-866-202-HELP (4357) for free, confidential support. 

For more information on how to practice self-care during this time, resources like https://www.virusanxiety.com/ has a plethora of sites about how to handle anxiety from the pandemic and how to better your mental state during self-isolation. There are also tips for meditation, which can also be helpful against anxiety.

Charles Imbimbo, an S-CAPS counselor, is hosting a mindfulness and meditation group through Zoom every Wednesday at 2:00-2:45 starting April 1.

If you have any questions you can email Charles Imbimbo at imbimbo@fdu.edu and if you want to attend the session, join the group at  https://fdu.zoom.us/j/528755962.  

It’s uncertain how long the quarantine will last, and students are anxious while trying to figure out this new living situation. However, there are always resources from FDU and beyond to help everyone calm down and remember that they can get through this.