Resources for Mental Health
Numbers to Know
Campus Safety 508-856-3296 or dial 911 from a campus phone
National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 988 (can call or text)
The BMB department places great value on the health and wellness of its trainees and employees. We prioritize mental health and wellness not only to care for each other as human beings of equal value, but also because strong mental health is essential for conducting scientific research. Science is a creative endeavor and therefore requires healthy and functioning brains inside the bodies of people who feel safe and supported at work.
We acknowledge that mental health is part of physical health, and that there are many factors that contribute to mental health including socioeconomic status, systemic oppression, and physical health. This page focuses on traditional mental health and wellness resources such as cognitive behavioral therapy, meditation or physical activity.
In general, many inclusive and supportive resources can be found on the Diversity and Inclusion Office (DIO) website, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) website, or the Human Relations (HR) website. We have curated some relevant resources from these sources and others below:
The Office of Well-Being offers many resources, including:
- Self-assessments to determine whether you should consider connecting with a mental health professional.
- Mindfulness and self-help resources, including access to the “Your Wellness Network” platform.
- Specific resources for faculty
- The Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which provides legal consultations, financial consultations, and traditional therapy. For immediate phone support, call 1-800-322-5327. The EAP can also help with the selection of external mental health services.
- Regular wellness programming such as Gentle Movement classes, Mindfulness Sessions, and relevant seminar series.
The Office of Well-Being Intranet Site has additional resources for those already employed by UMass Chan.
UMass Chan has an agreement with Stillman’s Farm for staff, faculty and students to participate in a Community Supported Agriculture pledge to provide UMass Chan employees with fresh seasonal produce from the area.
Food-insecure graduate students and postdocs have access to the Max Baker Resource Center.
Financial wellness resources are available from the Office of Financial Aid.
There is a gym on campus in the Albert Sherman Center (available to students for free) that offers group fitness classes in addition to cardiovascular equipment, free weights and other machines.
The Diversity and Inclusion Office helps organize Affinity Groups to help UMass employees and students build supportive relationships with colleagues.
The NIH Office of Intramural Training & Education (OITE) has a wealth of resources to help build resilient scientists, including an email list you can sign up for on their website.
The following resources are specific to graduate students:
Student Health Services can provide healthcare for students.
Student Counseling Services can provide mental health and psychiatric care for students. They can be reached at 508-856-3220.
Students have access to a Coaching Program for Academic Success and Student Well-Being.
The Learner Emergency Assistance Fund is available to graduate students experiencing “hardship form sudden, unexpected, time-limited expenses.”
A Peace Room in the Medical School Building is available for students.
Students can join the following wellness-related student groups:
- Community Garden Interest Group
- Medicine in Motion
- Plantation 2 Peak: UMass Medical School Outing Club
- UMass Chan Barbell Club
- UMass Chan Soccer Club
The NIH has supplemental funding opportunities to facilitate the transition of graduate students out of unsafe research environments.
