Well-Being Resources
Being a graduate student brings many personal and professional opportunities, but also challenges, from balancing course work with research or other scholarly pursuits, to building confidence in your ideas and capabilities, to the unexpected trials that happen in life. As a Penn State graduate student, you have access to many free wellness services.
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Emotional well-being is being aware of and accepting of your feelings and being able to manage your emotions in a constructive and supportive way, and having the tools and resources needed to navigate life’s challenges.
Call or Text 988 if You Need Help Now
If you are considering suicide, or if you or someone you know is in an emotional crisis, please call or text 988 to reach a national network of local crisis centers that provide free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crises or emotional distress.
Basic Needs and Support
Support resources for food, housing, basic needs, mental health, and more.
CAPS Chat
Provides informal, drop-in consultation for students with counselors from Penn State Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). Sessions are free and no appointment is necessary.
CAPS Life Hack Kits
Step-by-step wellness packages designed to help you navigate and demystify some of the more perplexing parts of being human. Instructors and student organization leaders are encouraged to use these for extra credit/points.
CAPS Virtual Library
This library includes informative videos about various mental health topics. Created for Penn State students by Penn State CAPS clinicians.
CAPS’ Community Provider Database
A help guide for the ins and outs of therapy, all the way from choosing a provider to paying for it.
Commonwealth Campuses Counseling Services
Links to campus-specific counseling resources.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
Provides a full range of short-term clinical services, consultation, community education, and training of mental health practitioners, and conducts research on students’ mental health.
Crisis Services
24/7 confidential service with licensed mental health counselors. Phone: 1-877-229-6400.
General Online Mental Health Screenings
Anonymous screenings on several areas of mental health, including depression, anxiety, academic distress, eating concerns, frustration level, family stress, and alcohol use.
Penn State Crisis Line
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or need immediate support, call the 24/7 Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400, or text the 24/7 Crisis Text Line: Text “LIONS” to 741741.
Wellness Services
Find support and resources for wellness at the University, and connect with the Graduate School's associate director for graduate student life and well-being.
WellTrack Boost
Self-help platform featuring wellness assessment tools and self-pace programs for resilience, anxiety and stress, depression, and public speaking. App available for iOS and Android.
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Financial well-being is managing your resources, making informed financial decisions, and preparing yourself financially for the short- and long-term.
Basic Needs and Support
Support resources for food, housing, basic needs, mental health, and more.
Career Services
Learn about programs and resources provided to assist students and alumni with specific career goals, expanding knowledge of career alternatives, understanding effective decision-making, and acquiring appropriate strategies and skills to carry out the process.
Career Services by Identity
Career Services has a Career Resource Center and Career Resource Specialist to provide and assist you with career resources. Stop by the Bank of America Career Services Center or connect with us to ask questions about our resources.
Guide to Public Assistance Programs
If you are struggling financially or experiencing food or housing insecurity, there may be state and federal assistance programs that can help. This office can help you determine your eligibility for these programs and navigate the application processes.
Sokolov-Miller Family Financial and Life Skills Center
Provides students with the knowledge and skills to make positive choices regarding money management while at Penn State and throughout their lives.
Student Parent Child Care Subsidy Program
Program that helps qualifying, low-income student parents sustain their educational efforts by paying a portion of their child care costs and encouraging them to select high-quality child care.
Tax Information for International Students
Support and guidance from Penn State Global on how international graduate students can complete taxes.
The Lion's Pantry
The Lion’s Pantry was created to address the issue of student hunger at Penn State University Park campus.
Veteran Student Career Resources
Explore a combination of general resources and those specific for veterans to give you leverage when searching for your next career opportunity.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
Service by business and law students that provides free federal and state taxes preparation.
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Intellectual well-being is to explore ideas and experiences that stimulate learning and knowledge application. Some ways we can improve our intellectual well-being:
- Pursue meaningful activities; explore new hobbies
- Write poetry, journal, read, make art, play puzzles & games
- Socialize and converse
- Exercise, get outside; limit screen time at home
Graduate Writing Center
The Graduate Writing Center provides consultation to graduate students in all disciplines and locations.
Schreyer Honors College
The mission of the Schreyer Institute is to advance and inspire excellence in Penn State’s teaching and learning community.
Teaching and Learning with Technology
We are a collaboration of learning innovators who discover and advance technologies that engage learners.
University Libraries
Library services, database and journal access, course guides, research support, and more.
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Physical well-being is caring for your body to stay healthy now and in the future including making intentional choices around topics such as nutrition, physical activity, self-care habits, preventive care, sleep, safety and alcohol/drug use.
Alcohol & Other Drug Concerns
Learn about a broad range of options for getting help for alcohol and other drug concerns, from harm reduction and brief intervention to inpatient rehabilitation and ongoing recovery maintenance.
Collegiate Recovery Community
Peer-support seminars where students and/or family members meet to give and receive support.
Health Information & Resources
Set of resources related to different types of health maintained by University Health Services.
Healthy Living & Healthy Habits
From eating well to getting enough sleep to managing stress, we can help you develop healthy strategies that will last a lifetime.
Schedule a UHS appointment
Schedule an appointment with the University's medical health provider online or by phone.
The Lion's Pantry
The Lion’s Pantry was created to address the issue of student hunger at Penn State University Park campus.
University Health Services
University Health Services provides convenient, confidential, and compassionate care for routine illnesses, and pre-existing conditions.
Yoga & Meditation
Free yoga and meditation classes run multiple times each week and are open to all. If you can't make the class, you can also watch previously recorded classes at your convenience.
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Social well-being is maintaining strong and healthy relationships with others and connecting with, and contributing to, your community.
Basic Needs and Support
Support resources for food, housing, basic needs, mental health, and more.
CATA RIDEpass
A mass transit program provides cost-effective access to all CATABUS routes to eligible University Park graduate students.
Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity
Strives to create and maintain an open, safer, and inclusive environment honoring gender and sexual diversity through educational, social, and supportive programming.
Centre Area Transit Authority (CATA)
Offers reliable bus mass transit around the Centre Region. On-campus loop and link services are free.
Centre Safe
Formerly Centre County Women’s Resource Center to empower survivors of sexual or domestic violence, and to work toward the elimination of such violence.
Gender Equity Center
Educates the campus community about gender equity issues and sexual violence issues, and supports students who have been impacted by sexual violence, relationship violence, stalking, harassment, and other campus climate issues.
Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA)
The primary goals of the official governing body of graduate and professional students at University Park are to represent and support the interests of the University’s current and future graduate and professional student community.
Happy Valley Adventure Bureau Events
Includes member businesses in State College PA, Bellefonte, Boalsburg, Philipsburg and all of Centre County. Find information about the Penn State area, including hotels, bed & breakfasts, restaurants, activities, recreation, events and more!
Intercultural Resources & Programming
Supports the underrepresented communities at Penn State through programs, services, and advocacy, and provides programs throughout the year that encourage the appreciation of diverse perspectives, experiences, and cultures.
International Student and Scholar Advising (ISSA)
Offers advising, immigration services, and training to support international students, scholars, and faculty.
LiveOn Housing for Graduate Students & Families
Specific on-campus housing and dining information for graduate students and families.
Off-campus Student Support
Off-campus living, roommates, tenants' rights, and community resources.
OrgCentral
Learn more about graduate student organizations by searching the database of student organizations.
Pasquerilla Spiritual Center
Offers a welcoming, safe, inclusive environment for the Penn State community to explore a multitude of faith traditions in a compassionate, open-minded setting.
Paul Robeson Cultural Center
Provides programs and support services to encourage and cultivate the appreciation and celebration of the diverse perspectives, experiences, and cultures of many under-represented communities at Penn State.
Student Legal Services
Provides advice, referrals, document drafting, and other legal services to University Park and Commonwealth Campus students facing personal legal issues. To get started, complete our intake form or stop by drop-in hours.
Student Parent Child Care Subsidy Program
Program that helps qualifying, low-income student parents sustain their educational efforts by paying a portion of their child care costs and encouraging them to select high-quality child care.