Let’s talk about people, purpose and believing in good.
Welcome back to the Mailbag!
To our loyal readers, we know you're probably expecting something today about Halloween, and that's a fair expectation. We normally talk about whatever holiday is upcoming and give you lists of things to do.
This time we left that up to a couple of other people in the office and they did a wonderful job, freeing the Mailbag up to talk about… well… whatever we wanted to talk about.
We started pondering what that should be and came to the conclusion that we wanted to talk about an uncomfortable topic that deserves more attention than we give it.
Let's start with what sparked this and a few other contributing factors.
A couple of weeks back there was a concert here in Lubbock featuring the Vandoliers (one of my favorite bands) and Bowling for Soup (if you know you know).
They put on a great show, but dead in the middle of the sets, the lead singer for each band spoke, loudly and clearly, about dealing with depression and anxiety. They encouraged those who need help to reach out to a professional. Talk about your problems. Find the help you need.
Admittedly, it didn't really hit home at that moment. But over the ensuing weeks, their sentiment kept coming to mind.
Now, normally, I'm not the “let's get in our feels” type of writer or person. I openly admit that. I don't often suffer from depression or anxiety and generally have a pretty laid-back and cheerful outlook on life.
But nobody is immune. There were moments recently of being overwhelmed, both for myself and for others around me, that were reminders of that struggle. Some of those touchpoints were in my professional life, others in my personal life.
As it happened, the topic of October being ADHD awareness month also came up, and that's when it hit home that this was, in fact, the perfect time to talk about mental health, resources available at Texas Tech University, and taking care of the people around us.
Now, as a writer and not a physician, it's not my place to dive into ADHD, depression, anxiety, stress or any other medical condition.
What I can do is offer hope, encouragement and resources.
At Texas Tech we care deeply about not just our students, but our faculty, staff and the entire community.
Because of that, we have things like Risk Intervention & Safety Education (RISE) and Beyond Okay.
RISE has a crisis helpline available 24/7 at (806) 742-5555 for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis, sexual assault or interpersonal violence. RISE also offers drop-in hours on campus, monthly events and a blog written by trained peer educators on a variety of topics.
Beyond Okay was started as a resource to address mental well-being following the COVID-19 pandemic and the unique challenges of that time. It has developed into a campus-wide effort to address all kinds of well-being.
The Beyond Okay site is great for finding the connections and information you need when dealing with any kind of issue and has the resources available on campus to students and Texas Tech employees laid out very well.
Whatever it is you're going through, the university is here to help.
If you're struggling, reach out.
More Mailbag
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How many citations until you get a boot on your vehicle? Is there a campus nurse? - Mailbag: Print the Legend
Is Texas Tech the second-largest contiguous college campus in the country? - Mailbag: Playing Chicken
Exploring the world of campus crosswalks. - Mailbag: Halloween Happenings
How best to celebrate All Hallows Eve. - Mailbag: Beyond Okay
Mental health, and what Texas Tech is doing to help. - Mailbag: Home for the Holidays
Planning your holiday travels? We've got you covered. - Mailbag: Thanksgiving Extravaganza!
In which we answer two reader questions about Turkey Day. - Mailbag: Giving Thanks
The Mailbag stays in-house this week as we give thanks for the many blessings in our lives. - Mailbag: Highly Recommended
What to do when you need a letter of recommendation. - Mailbag: Let the Commencements Commence
Everything from parking at the ceremony to ideas about what to do afterward! - Mailbag: A Horse's A**
At issue is a certain horse's hindquarters, a college down south and if the two actually intersect. - Mailbag: Checking In
Parents with questions: where to see their student's grades and how to see TechAlerts. - Mailbag: Celebrating Dr. King
MLK Day offers much more than a reprieve from classes and work. - Mailbag: Let's Get Judgy
What are Texas Tech's world-class judging teams actually judging and how do they get judged themselves? We're here to find out. - Mailbag: Happy Snow Day
What a snow day looks like at Texas Tech. - Mailbag: Evermore
We look at Texas Tech's award-winning magazine. - Mailbag: All About Love
Valentine's Day is right around the corner, so we're sharing some Texas Tech love stories. - Mailbag: The Hub for Success
The Raider Success Hub is a new tool designed to help students succeed. - Mailbag: The Hub for Success
The Raider Success Hub is a new tool designed to help students succeed. - Mailbag: All About Love Part II
Two weeks back, we shared a couple of stories of Red Raiders in love. We liked it so much we're doing it again. - Mailbag: Here with the Wind
A little bit (maybe a whole lot) of West Texas coming at y'all. - Mailbag: Spring Break Safety
Make good choices. - Mailbag: Service It Up
Take on the challenge and get those service hours counted. - Mailbag: More to Come
We hope you enjoyed our latest series, but we're just getting started. - Mailbag: Was That Sky Water?
Talking about a rainy day. - Mailbag: Finish Strong
We're looking at a fine way to close out your first year on campus. - Mailbag: How and Why We Ranch Horse
In case you were curious, we build champions around here. - Mailbag: What's Not To Love?
A column in which we discuss a call with a friend. - Mailbag: Looks Like You Made It
You're Red Raiders for life now, no take backs. - Mailbag: Building Up
Texas Tech hosted its first topping out ceremony of its second century, but it won't be the last. - Mailbag: Taking Over
What does it take to turn Dallas red? - Mailbag: Off to the Races
Texas Tech and LISD partnered on a STEM project involving races and student-built vehicles. - Mailbag: Everything Evermore All At Once
What does it take to become the best of the best? - Mailbag: Red Raider Community
In which we talk about what the Red Raider community is. - Mailbag: Happy Independence Day
Where we talk about summer, safety and making good decisions. - Mailbag: Two Mondays
A weird week of work and a couple other things you should know. - Mailbag: Why Semiconductors Matter
You may be surprised to learn how much is happening at Texas Tech. - Mailbag: Let's Go Dining
We're talking about food, so please enjoy. - Mailbag: Clarion Awards
Another round of awards and a night to remember. - Mailbag: Leading from Lubbock
After a whirlwind week in the Big 12, it is worth noting the huge role President Lawrence Schovanec played in the latest round of realignment. - Mailbag: Let's Talk About the Weather
Fake fall came and went, but we learned some things. - Mailbag: Day of Giving
Texas Tech's second Day of Giving was a massive success, thanks to all of you, but how does the whole thing come together? - Mailbag: What's Up With Hurricane Season?
Hurricane season is clearly here, so we asked why they're hitting left, right and center. - Mailbag: Life Advice from Jimmy Buffett
A legend has passed, but we can all still appreciate what he brought us. - Mailbag: The Villain of the Housing Market?
Short-term rentals are feeling the heat, but are they the true villains? - Mailbag: Hard-Working People
When trouble hits, the Operations Division responds. - Mailbag: What Texas Tech Has Always Been About
President Schovanec's State of the University highlighted many records while emphasizing Texas Tech's priority: our students. - Mailbag: Fall Agritourism
It's that time of year, so enjoy it and be respectful. - Mailbag: Help Is Near
Let's talk about people, purpose and believing in good. - Mailbag: Get Out And Vote
Get to the polls and let your voice be heard. - Mailbag: Building a Reputation
With our hibernation over, we're hungry and back on the hunt. - Mailbag: Texas Tech's Kansas City Connection
If you're wondering where our support will be Sunday, wonder no more. - Mailbag: Helping While Feeling Helpless
Our community is in distress, and all of us should be concerned. - Mailbag: The Pursuit of Prime
Chasing the best there is to chase.
