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Who Are You?

Your Student's Emotional Well-being  

Your son or daughter is going to be experiencing a tremendous amount of growth and change throughout his or her time at Cornell, so you can anticipate that her or she may feel overwhelmed, stressed out, anxious, or even depressed on occasion. While these feelings often resolve themselves without assistance, it is sometimes helpful for students to discuss their concerns with a family member, staff or faculty member, or trained professional.

For students coming to Cornell from a culture in which problems are typically worked out with the help of a famiy member, seeking help from another source may be awkward. If this is true for your student, please respect him or her for having the courage to ask for help when it's needed, and trust that our staff will do all that they can to help your student resolve his or her concerns.

If you become concerned about the emotional health of your student, you may wish to talk with him or her about the services that exist on campus. Our "Assisting Students in Distress" pages contain helpful communication tips for parents and guardians and can link you to many helpful on-campus resources, including Gannett’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). (Note: Gannett's Counseling and Psychological Services also provide additional advice for parents and guardians which may be especially helpful during the transition times or when managing a family mental health concern.) 

If you have urgent concerns about your student's physical or mental health, a Gannett health care provider and counselor are available for telephone consultation 24 hours a day, every day. Encourage your student to give us a call; or call us yourself.

 

Help reduce their stress

Consider arranging a therapeutic massage for your son or daughter through Cornell Massage Therapy, located in our Physical Therapy Department at Schoellkopf Hall. Gift certificates are available. You may bursar the expense or bill to a credit card. Call 255-5985 for more information.

President Skorton Says

New Student Convocation
August 18, 2007
Schoellkopf Stadium

"At Cornell we work hard, often under the pressure of multiple deadlines and our own high expectations, but we also recognize the paramount importance of physical and emotional health as the foundation for scholarly pursuits."

Read the full speech.

In the News

Find out what the Wall Street Journal said about Cornell's approach to mental health in its article entitled "Safety School: Bucking Privacy Concerns, Cornell Acts as Watchdog."

NPR's Talk of the Nation explores Cornell's approach to supporting the mental health of students with Dr. Greg Eells, Director of Counseling and Psychological Services.