WBI Weekly Digest

BOARD ELECTIONS







Personal 

NAMI Connections Support Group for law students resumes TONIGHT, from 5-6:30pm in Mondale Hall, Room 475. Please see the ‘Resources’ section below for more details! 


Let’s Talk has changed its location and time. The new details are below! 


Law Student Mental Health Advocacy Coalition Interest Survey 

Law students from Fordham, University of Miami, and University of New Mexico are interested in forming a National Law Student Mental Health Advocacy Coalition. They created a survey to gauge national interest for this Coalition and to collect general data on the types of mental health and wellness services and programming law schools offer.


Take the survey here!


This survey will NOT collect any personally identifying information, except that which you may choose to provide. Should you have any questions or concerns about this survey, please contact Sam Sloane (she/her), the current ABA Law Student Liaison to the Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLAP), by phone at 720-201-1899 or by email at [log in to unmask].

VOTE!

WBI is having its board elections for 2022-2023. Please read the personal statements below and click this link to vote for four candidates that will enhance Well-Being at the school. Voting will close on 03/20/2022 at 11:59 PM. WBI ELECTION LINK.

Sean Rattigan

I have direct experience managing employees and overseeing teams in high stress environments; consulting and fast-paced service. I have extensive experience collecting data around areas of concern/improvement and fostering a culture where individuals feel supported. 

I think it would be beneficial to release targeted surveys, bubble and qualitative feedback, where students can directly provide feedback about areas where they may not feel supported.

Chase Webber

The WBI Braintrust would give me the opportunity to further serve my peers at UMN law. I offer extensive and ongoing experience in the field of mental health and addiction recovery. During the last four years, I led student wellness and support programs, including a student-led recovery group which I initiated at UMN Law this year. I also help students in involvement with MN LCL. I envision more peer-support options for all UMN Law students that could replace stigma with empathy by facilitating personal connections, for mutual growth, while offering more resource accessibility and awareness.

Mark Maier

My physical health and well-being are very important to me, and I think they should be a school-wide priority. If I am able to join, some of my biggest priorities would be to try to plan at least one health or fitness-related event per week, and also make a point of more frequently including healthy snacks at school events, tables, and more. Because I am very organized and detail-oriented--and these issues are very personal to me--I believe I can be a great contributor to WBI. In my role, I would also be a faithful representative of the student body.

Alex Jones

Throughout my 1L career at Mondale I have been heavily involved in WBI. I am serving as the liaison for WBI to Law Council and am the head of the physical subcommittee. I would like to continue to advocate for student health and grow WBI to the organization it was pre-pandemic. I want to continue our work of advocating students needs/wishes to administration and gain every inch of change that WBI is able to make during my time.

I am Alex Jones, and I approve this message.

Kayla Haeg

I would like to join the WBI Braintrust to provide additional support for rural students. Last year, I moved out of Alaska for the first time and had trouble adjusting to city life in the Lower 48. I am interested in creating a support group for students from rural backgrounds and organizing “backcountry” hiking trips. I also plan on supporting the WBI peer mentorship program, since my mentor practically saved me from dropping out of school that first semester. I want to guide 1Ls through the extreme anxiety of law school and the WBI Braintrust sounds like a perfect fit

Ali Casey

I would like to continue my time on the WBI Braintrust to keep advocating for those with mental illness and normalize conversations about mental health and wellbeing. I want to push for more education surrounding mental health and substance use in the legal profession. I believe being proactive and equipping students with mental health resources and knowledge now is the key to them being able to quickly and smoothly access resources in the future when they may be struggling.

Luke Srodulski

My first year as part of the BrainTrust has been extremely rewarding, from gauging and reporting on students' well-being to advocating for class recording mandates for faculty. I see another year with WBI as an opportunity to build upon this progress and make sure that student concerns are heard and heeded.

Ray Mestad

I would love to be a part of the WBI Braintrust to contribute to the well-being of law students and help destigmatize struggles with mental health during law school. Law school is challenging enough, and those challenges can be compounded when adapting to school also requires dealing with diagnoses or personal struggles. It would be a privilege to be able to use my own experiences in way that can be helpful to other students facing difficulties. I am a great communicator, passionate about mental health, and would be grateful for the chance to participate with WBI in this role.

Academic


The University of Minnesota is implementing a relaxed mask policy on Monday, March 21. You can see the details here. In short, in-person classes will still require masks, but other gatherings in classrooms or other rooms will not. Additionally, masks will be optional in common areas like the library or in an office workspace.


This is a big change from the more strict mask policy that had been in place since a return to in-person instruction, so we want to know how students feel about it. Please let us know any thoughts you have on the policy here, and we can make sure your anonymous concerns are heard.

Advice Column

Some tips for taking a mental health day:

The other day I found myself dealing with some major anxiety attacks and I needed to stay home. I wanted to push myself to act like nothing was wrong, but as I tried, I found that it compounded the issues, so I took a mental health day.

Non-judgmental acceptance:

Meet yourself where you are. Maybe you cannot do anything but lay in bed and watch TikToks, but maybe you have it in you to watch your class recordings or go to your hybrid classes, brush your teeth, and eat a meal. Pushing yourself to go further than you actually can go may lead to more distress. Be gentle with yourself.

Create or complete something:

I find that creating or completing something is satisfying if I have the capacity to do it. I appreciate the feeling of accomplishment, especially when I am having a bad brain day. For me, this can be cooking a meal, reading for tomorrow, or finishing starting a craft.

Get comfy:

If I feel terrible, I find a bit of relief by throwing on a nice or comfy outfit. This reminds me that I am not my messy mood. This can range from fluffy pjs to a nice turtleneck and gold earrings. Putting intention into what I am wearing and what my environment is like is helpful when focusing on staying in the moment and getting through difficult feelings or pain.

Go slow,

Sierra Grandy ([log in to unmask])


Any questions, concerns, or topics that you’d like some advice on, feel free to submit them here! You’ll get real advice, and maybe some memes for your situation. 

Resources

NAMI Connections Group for University of Minnesota Law Students

The NAMI Connection group offers peer-led support for law students living with mental health disorders who attend the University of Minnesota Law School. 


NAMI Connection is a recovery support group for adults with a mental illness regardless of their diagnosis. This group is offered free of charge and is led by trained individuals who are also in recovery – people who understand the challenges folks with mental illness face. 


This is a hybrid model. You can join in-person or via Zoom. 

There is a 20 person limit. We still have plenty of room!

No need to register – simply show up!


Who: UMN law students living with mental illness

What: Peer-led support group!

When: 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of each month; 5-6:30pm

Where: Mondale Hall Room 475 

This group is completely confidential. It is not therapy. 


Click here to see other NAMI Connection Groups offered in Minnesota. 


"Character and Fitness" Wellness Group


Let’s Talk 


Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers


Boynton Mental Health


Looking for a Therapist? 

Learn about the various types of mental health professionals and types of treatments available. 


Psychology Today Find a Therapist Search Tool


Fast Tracker 


Crisis Resources

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 


Sand Creek 24/7 Phone Counseling 


Community Spaces - NEW! 

Community Spaces is a new initiative at the law school! It is for anyone who is interested in getting together with other Minnesota Law students and building community.


Third Thursday of the Month from 12:15-1:15pm in Room 3 

AND 

Third Friday of the Month from 12:15-1:15pm Virtually (https://z.umn.edu/communityspaces) 


Dates: March 17th & 18th; April 21st & 22nd


WBI has created a Resources Page on our website where law students can always go to find support.


UMN Law Well-Being Initiative
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READ MORE ON OUR WEBSITE 



Current Contacts
Annika Cushnyr - [log in to unmask]
Emily Moss - [log in to unmask]
Sarani Millican -  [log in to unmask]

Alex Jones - [log in to unmask]

Ali Casey - [log in to unmask]

Luke Srodulski -  [log in to unmask]






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