Strengthening the University Community’s Mental Health in 2025

As part of our commitment to holistic health and wellness in 2025, we are focusing on mental health. Maintaining good mental health is essential to our overall wellness, and a powerful way to improve our mental health is by cultivating meaningful friendships and accountability circles. The University’s CareerLink site, a university networking and engagement platform, provides students, alumni, faculty, and staff with a centralized wellness community.

Why Friendship and Mental Health Is So Important

With our busy lives, much of which are spent online, it’s easy to overlook the importance of meaningful friendships. However, studies have shown that strong social connections are critical for mental health, offering not only emotional support but also physical health benefits.

Good friends help reduce our stress, promote feelings of belonging, and provide the necessary encouragement and empathy we need during difficult times. Friendships don’t just offer comfort in times of need; they are also essential for self-care, offering a chance to step back, reflect, and reconnect with ourselves.

It’s vital that we develop friendships that provide real support, especially in our most challenging times. As the University continues its focus on physical and mental wellness this year, we encourage you to nurture these relationships and prioritize your social wellbeing.

Building Accountability Circles for Mental Health

Accountability circles are groups of close friends who regularly check in with each other about personal, academic, or professional goals. By offering encouragement, sharing successes, and supporting one another through struggles, accountability circles are a way to stay on track and maintain progress toward our personal and professional goals. They also provide an opportunity for us to be vulnerable without being judged, a practice that is essential for mental wellness.

In 2025, we encourage all members of the University community to form accountability circles, where you can check in on each other’s mental health and personal growth. These circles can be simple. They can be just a phone call, a virtual meeting, or even an in-person coffee chat where you share your goals, reflect on your progress, and provide each other with support. Maintaining these connections are essential for your mental wellness in a world that can often feel overwhelming.

Why Friendships Help Your Mental Health

A simple conversation with a friend can significantly reduce feelings of anxiety and stress. Sometimes, sharing your struggles – big or small – can alleviate the weight of your worries.

Moreover, a friend’s perspective may offer insights or solutions you might not have considered, contributing to clarity and your peace of mind. As you participate in the University’s wellness initiatives this year, remember the power of friendship. Sometimes, just listening is enough to create a space for emotional release and healing.

Setting Boundaries and Practicing Self-Care

Friendships can be an invaluable source of mental health support, but they also require some attention and the establishment of boundaries. Setting healthy boundaries within friendships, as well as maintaining self-care practices, are essential for mental wellness. By investing quality time with friends, being attentive to others’ needs, and practicing gratitude, you strengthen both your social connections and your mental health.

As part of our #BeWell campaign, we encourage you to check in with your friends regularly and offer support, whether that’s through accountability circles or simply reaching out to check in on their mental health. These small actions will go a long way in fostering a supportive and connected University community in 2025.

In 2025, let’s make our mental health a priority. By focusing on meaningful friendships and forming accountability circles, we will strengthen our community and each other. Together, we can create an environment where mental wellness is a shared goal and supporting each other through life’s challenges makes us all stronger.

Also, be sure to reach out and join CareerLink’s #BeWell – A Health & Wellness Accountability Circle.