For TAs, Faculty, and Staff, the phrase "Stress of Students" has a double meaning. First, it means that students experience stress. Second, it means that students can be a source of stress.

    Despite what your students might claim, you have limited influence over how much stress they experience. Why? The demands that you place upon them are but a few of the multitude of stressors that they face daily: family, job(s), relationships, school, finances, etc. Learning to balance, manage, even juggle the demands from each of these sectors is as much a part of your students' University experience as is mastering the skills and knowledge covered in your course(s).

    As you probably already know, you exercise quite a bit of control over how much stress you experience as a result of your students' distress. Healthful stress management strategies include assertiveness, explicit expectations, flexibility, warmth, and professional boundaries. When you practice healthful stress management, you can not only maintain healthy levels of stress but also model (teach) for your students how to manage their stress better.

What is stress?

What can TAs, Faculty, & Staff do to help students manage stress?

• Recognize that being a student is intrinsically stressful. Remember that change produces stress. Education requires change--e.g., change of thought process, reading habits, studying, schedules, etc.
• Ask yourself how much support you are willing to offer. Having survived, even thrived, in college yourself, you might have useful insights or tips to offer your students. At the same time, to preserve your own well-being, you need to set appropriate professional boundaries.
• Know your limits and stick to them.
• Be very cautious about agreeing to silence or confidentiality. What someone discloses to you after such a promise could put you in an awkward, or even legally precarious, position. Know ahead of time what you are legally compelled to tell. In addition, know what information you are not comfortable protecting.
• Consult with a staff member of Counseling & Psychological Services (575-CAPS).
• Familiarize yourself with campus resources where you refer students.

Where can TAs, Faculty, & Staff refer students?

University Housing provides Counselors-in-Residence to students living the residence halls and university apartments. The counselors are doctoral students in Counselor Education and are supervised by a staff member from CAPS. They focus their efforts on helping students to address stress related to self-esteem, homesickness, substance use, sexual orientation, relationships, and career/academic decisions. Call 718-1026 or 973-9132 for an appointment.

Health Promotion & Education is located in 228 University Health Center at 600 Razorback Road. They teach a one-hour course on Lifestyle Improvement, HLSC 2101. They also offer appointments and campus presentations to help individuals live more healthfully. Call 575-4451 for more information.