Mental Health & Wellness

In addition to the events listed below, please visit the Rutgers Wellness Events Calendar to learn more about upcoming events to promote your wellness.

Workshop Title: Minding Your Mental Health: When to Get Support and What to Expect

Date: May 27th, 2026

Time: 12:00 PM

Description: How do you know when you need help from a mental health professional? And what happens when you get it? For most people, this is a mystery, but it doesn’t have to be. This interactive workshop walks people through the process of seeking help. From dealing with the normal stresses of life to addressing mental health difficulties like depression and anxiety, you will know what professional mental health support can look like and how to seek support when you need it.

To attend: Complete registration

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Workshop Title: Emotionally Smarter: The Science and Skills of Regulation

Date: June 8, 2026

Time: 11:00 AM

Description: Emotions aren’t something to fix—they’re built-in signals we can use to help us navigate the world. Yet without the tools to understand and manage them, intense emotions can quickly become overwhelming, which can cause us to react in ways that aren’t always helpful. The key is learning to work with our emotions, instead of letting them decide what you do next. In this workshop, we’ll explore the science and skill of emotion regulation, helping you understand how emotions work and how to respond to them with your goals and well-being in mind. You’ll leave with practical skills you can draw in the day-to-day and a better understanding of when it makes sense to reach out for professional support.

To attend: Complete registration

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Workshop Title: Finding Balance: Living Well With Boundaries

Date: June 25, 2026

Time: 10:00 AM

Description: Boundaries can help you build healthy relationships, maximize your time, increase your productivity, protect your energy, and achieve better work-life balance. But setting boundaries  can be really difficult. In this workshop, we’ll cover the main hurdles to setting boundaries, how to overcome those hurdles, and how to identify areas of your work life where boundaries may help. We’ll also discuss ways to communicate your boundaries effectively. With a plan in place, you’ll 
be ready to set boundaries with yourself and others to best support your well-being.

To attend: Complete registration

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Workshop title: Surfing Through Stressful Times

Date: July 8, 2026

Time: 12:00 PM

Description: Stress is part of life. But when it takes center stage, we become exhausted, irritable, and less productive. We can try to suppress negative thoughts and feelings, but that just makes them worse. So what’s the alternative? You can’t avoid stress, but you can learn more effective ways to cope with it. This workshop offers a counterintuitive yet science-based approach to reducing stress—helping you learn to “surf” the waves of stress.

To attend: Complete registration

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Workshop Title: Social Media and Mental Health

Date: July 21, 2026

Time: 10:00 AM

Description: Social media captures a lot of our time and attention - which is why its important to understand how it can impact our mental health and well-being. Join this workshop to discuss how social media can shape our lives offline in positive and negative ways. We'll discuss everything from the impact of social media on our thought processes and behaviors all the way to our mood and self esteem. In this workshop, you'll also learn tools to help you support your well-being and build healthy habits online.

To attend:  Complete registration

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Workshop title: Executive Functioning: The Science of Getting Things Done

Date: August 10, 2026

Time: 12:00 PM

Description: We’ve all been there—those times when it’s hard to focus, when planning feels impossible, when you just can’t get started on something. Aside from being frustrating, it turns out that these situations all have something else in common. They all rely on our executive functioning, or the set of skills that your brain uses to help you meet goals and solve problems. The good news is you don’t have to navigate challenges like these alone. In this workshop, we’ll cover tactical, science-backed strategies that can help you pay attention, start tasks, manage time, and plan and organize your way to a smoother and more successful work day.

For some neurodivergent folks, executive functioning can be particularly challenging. But no matter your relationship with neurodiversity—whether you know or suspect you’re neurodivergent, know you aren’t, or don’t know what neurodiversity means—this workshop is for you. While it’s not a quick fix or a replacement for professional care, everyone can walk away with practical tools that can make a difference in your everyday life.

To attend: Complete registration

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Workshop title: Curbing Burnout: Your Guide to Prevention and Early Intervention

Date: August 24, 2026

Time: 10:00 AM 

Description: Reports of burnout are increasingly common, but there’s a lot we can do to prevent burnout, enhance well-being at work, and ensure that our lives are more well-rounded and enriching. This workshop reviews the individual and organizational factors that can mitigate risk for burnout, as well as specific strategies for communicating more effectively at work, managing job-related stress, and preventing work from intruding at home and in our relationships with loved ones.

To attend: Complete registration

• Counseling, Alcohol and Other Drug Assistance Program & Psychiatric Services (CAPS): Self-help resources such as apps, meditation, or guided exercises can be a great way to manage day-to-day stress or to use periodically when you feel overwhelmed. Please click here to visit CAPS' self-help page, which is full of resources such as these. Please note that these resources are not a substitute for professional mental health services, and CAPS' counseling/psychiatry appointments are exclusively for students.
• UHR Wellness Information: topics include smoking cessation, caring for yourself and your family, disability accommodation, and health and safety services.
• Live Weekly Guided Meditations: Thursdays at 12 PM; 10 minutes or less. Zoom link accessible here. Contact Sarah Ben Younes-Millot with any questions.
• Rutgers University-Newark Caregivers Resource Portal: an informational hub for faculty, staff, and graduates students who would like to learn more about Rutgers' family leave policies, best practices for supporting caregivers at the department level, best practices for supporting student-caregivers, Rutgers' institutional resources and benefits for caregivers and families, and so much more.

• Rutgers Office for Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance (VPVA):
  Provides confidential crisis intervention, counseling, and advocacy for survivors of interpersonal violence.
  Visit VPVA
• Sexual Harassment Prevention and Culture Change at Rutgers:
  University-wide initiative focused on building a respectful and inclusive climate through prevention and education.
  Learn more
• National Academies Issue Paper – Supporting Postdoctoral Scholars Experiencing Sexual Harassment in Higher Education:
  Explores the unique vulnerabilities of postdocs, the impact of sexual harassment on their careers, and potential institutional responses.
  Read the issue paper
• New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NJCASA):
  A statewide organization working to end sexual violence through advocacy, education, and support for survivors.
  Visit NJCASA
• New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence (NJCEDV):
  Provides support, advocacy, and resources to end domestic violence and support survivors across New Jersey.
  Visit NJCEDV
• Stalking, Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC):
  Offers education, training, and resources to address and prevent stalking.
  Visit SPARC
• VictimConnect Resource Center:
  A confidential, compassionate helpline where crime victims can learn about their rights and options.
  Visit VictimConnect
• National Domestic Violence Hotline:
  Offers 24/7 support, resources, and safety planning for those affected by domestic violence.
  Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit the website
• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network):
  The nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization offering support via a 24/7 hotline and online chat.
  Call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit RAINN

Local Resources: 

• Atlantic Health System - Crisis Intervention Services: In the event of a psychiatric emergency, Atlantic Behavioral Health offers crisis intervention services, including a 24-hour hotline, risk assessments and screenings, and community trauma assistance.
• Richard Hall Community Mental Health Center: A comprehensive community mental health center dedicated to the prevention, early detection, and treatment of mental illness and serious emotional and behavioral problems. A wide range of services are provided on a sliding fee scale for county residents.
• PerformCare NJ: When a child is facing challenges to their functioning and well-being, finding the right services and support can be overwhelming. PerformCare is committed to helping you access the right services for your child.
• NJ Mental Health Cares: The MHANJ is a statewide non-profit organization whose mission is to strive for children and adults to achieve victory over mental illness and substance use disorders through advocacy, education, training and services. 

Federal Resources:

• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): HRSA works to improve access to health care. The HRSA website has information on finding affordable healthcare, including health centers that offer care on a sliding fee scale.
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): CMS has information on its website about benefits and eligibility for mental health programs and how to enroll.
• The National Library of Medicine (NLM) MedlinePlus: NLM’s website has directories and lists of organizations that can help in identifying a health practitioner.
• Mental Health and Addiction Insurance Help: This website from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers resources to help answer questions about insurance coverage for mental health care.

Other Resources:

• Making the Most of Who You Are and Where You're Planted: Postdoc Resilience Guide 2025-2026 (Penn State Office of Postdoctoral Affairs)
• NIH Becoming a Resilient Scientist Series (Fall 2022): A series of webinars and small group discussions to help you develop the confidence and resilience you need to navigate challenging situations in school, work, and life. 
• NPA Webinars:
  • myPDO Monthly: Supporting the Mental Health and Well-being of Postdocs
  • myPostdoc Monthly: Managing Impostor Syndrome
  • myPostdoc Monthly: Being Resilient While Job Searching
  • myPostdoc Monthly: Fostering Resilience During Times of Chronic Stress
  • myPostdoc Monthly: Identifying and Managing Career Anxiety
  • myPostdoc Monthly: Did They Really Just Say That?! Responding to Bias at Work

Apps:

• What's Up?: ​Uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) methods to help you cope with Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and more. 
• Moodfit: Shapes up your mood with proven tools & insight using CBT, mood journaling, gratitude, mindfulness & more.
• Calm: Helps users sleep better, boost confidence and reduce stress and anxiety, all with the help of guided meditations, soothing music, and bedtime stories
• Breathe2Relax: Teaches a skill called “diaphragmatic breathing” via guided practice sessions to help users feel more relaxed.
• Happify: Improves overall well-being and happiness, with influences from positive psychology, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness. Each activity intends to strengthen one of the five happiness skills: savor, thankful, aspire, give, or empathize.

Mental Health Guides:

• Work and your Mental Health: A Guide for Employees
• Creating a StigmaFree Workplace: A Guide for Supervisors