Community Support: Be Real Together
Life can be hard sometimes, but the WPI community is here with a helping hand and support. In our continued efforts to #BeRealTogether, students, faculty, and staff shared their real-world experiences, insights, and quotes, all touching upon how they effectively navigate their own mental health and wellness.
Nick Miragliotta ’23
“I’ve found that the best mental health support for me is being a part of tight-knit student groups. Some of the people that support me the most I've met through clubs and organizations; they’re great to lean on since they can empathize with what I'm going through.”
Jacquelyn Lopez ’23
“I always find myself de-stressing with bullet journaling because it not only holds me accountable, but serves as a place where I can write down everything I'm thinking about...it’s also helped me practice contentment, serving as a daily gratitude log to remind myself of all the things I have to be grateful for.”
Zoe Januszewski '22
“I was raised to be a giver, but sometimes this drains me and affects my mental health. In moments of stress, I find relief through self-reflection, my favorite music, and baking sweets.”
Nick Coviello '26
“One thing I preach about most and recommend to others is a balance of work and social life. Here at WPI where the workload can be very stressful, you need an outlet of some sorts to keep your mental health in check. Whether that be sports, clubs, Greek life, or going out into the city of Worcester, everybody needs some type of break from their work so they can recharge and be ready to take on challenges head-on. I advise everyone to take a step back if you're struggling; take that day off, reach out to friends, prioritize yourself over your problems, so you can reset and feel more motivated to finish what you started.”
Robert Brodin '23
“I’ve found that nature and spending time outside walking in Worcester help when I’m anxious or stressed. Taking a break from work and spending time by yourself is so important to avoid burnout.”
Robbie Oleynick ’24
“You are a piece of this beautiful puzzle of a WPI community. Even if you don't know where you fit in, the puzzle will never be complete without you. It's never too late to focus on you, to ask for help, or to search for the gap in our puzzle where you belong.”
Liz Chirico, University Advancement
“I have suffered from anxiety for most of my adult life. Talking to a trusted friend and/or therapist is the best method I have found to help work through the difficulties…My anxiety will never disappear but with help I have learned how to live with it. You are not alone, and you are not a burden for needing help.”
Zoe Reidinger, Biomedical Engineering
"When I am struggling with my mental health, I have a few different strategies to help heal or manage. Most importantly, I connect with friends, especially if I feel like I don't want to. Friends always make my day better. I also go to therapy, try to make space for my self, temporarily change my expectations for myself (both work-wise and at home), and I try to give myself the grace I need. I also find doing something nice for someone else or doing something creative (or both combined) can lift my mood."
How You Can Help Those in Need
The National Alliance on Mental Illness offers several suggestions about what we can do as individuals to help reduce the stigma of mental illness:
- Talk openly about mental health, in person and on social media
- Educate yourself and others—respond to misperceptions or negative comments by sharing facts and experiences
- Be conscious of language—remind people that words matter
- Encourage equality between physical and mental illness—draw comparisons to how they would treat someone with cancer or diabetes
- Show compassion for those with mental illness
- Be honest about treatment; normalize mental health treatment and treat it just like other healthcare treatment
- Let the media know when they’re using stigmatizing language or presenting stories of mental illness in a stigmatizing way