Staff members at Student Counseling Services (SCS) are available to help you cope with the emotional and psychological aspects of H1NI flu and other illnesses.

In what circumstances might emotional distress be associated with H1N1 and psychological help be beneficial?

Many people are anxious about contracting the flu, and those with pre-existing anxiety problems may be affected even more. Most anxiety can be managed by getting accurate information, taking precautions to maintain healthy behaviors, and establishing health and support plans in the event of illness. If the anxiety starts to be too much to tolerate on your own or starts to interfere with your day-to-day functioning at school, work, or other activities, seeking help is recommended. General information about managing anxiety about H1N1 flu may be obtained at American Psychological Association website. This does not take the place, however, of professional psychological/counseling assistance.
You may contract the H1N1 flu, seasonal flu, or some other illness. You might miss classes or other activities that you are involved in for a period of time while you get well. Most students are relatively resilient and can bounce back from such occurrences with a positive attitude and the support of those around them. If your adjustment back to your academic, social, and personal routines is difficult however, counseling may be beneficial in giving you the support you need. Learning to prioritize and set goals related to tasks to be completed, learning how to be assertive with faculty and others about transitioning back and making up missed work, or even learning how to make decisions about what you can and cannot do based on the time you were absent and what was missed, are areas in which a counselor can assist you.
You may have a relative or friend who has H1N1. This may be made more difficult by offering support from a distance and not having the benefit of seeing firsthand how a loved one is recovering. This is the same type of distress a parent may experience when their student is hours away feeling ill, troubled, or weakened. If your level of distress starts to adversely affect your functioning, it is time to talk with someone about it.

How do I get psychological/emotional assistance?

Student Counseling Services is located in room 263 of the Guerrieri University Center. The phone number is 410 543-6070. Additional information can be found at the SCS website www.salisbury.edu/counseling . Office hours are 8:00am - 5:00pm Monday through Friday during the academic year and 8:00am - 4:30pm during the summer.

If you are sick, with H1N1 flu or seasonal flu (symptoms include fever of 100 degrees or over and a cough or sore throat), and need to talk about any psychological concerns, you may call to consult with a counselor about your concern over the phone. A follow up appointment at SCS can be made when you are well, defined as having at least 24 hours of no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
If you are well, contact 410 543-6070 or stop by room 263 GUC to schedule an appointment.