Mississippi State University students can now participate in a free workshop series to receive tips on dealing with depression, anger, social anxiety and stress related issues.
Rachel Doyle,  freshman computer science and software engineering major, said she thinks having good mental health is important for students.
“If you’re not feeling well, if you’re depressed, then you don’t want to do anything. And if you don’t want to do anything, then that means you don’t want to go to class or do your homework and then you drop out,” she said.
The series is offered by Student Counseling Services. Staff psychologist JaNaé Taylor, coordinates the program. Taylor said the workshops are open to any current MSU students but were designed for anyone interested in learning more about him or herself.
“If you want to gain some skills and tools to succeed during your college years then this is the place for you,” she said.
Active Minds, a student outreach group promoting mental wellness, has helped SCS promote the workshops by passing out pamphlets and flyers about the program.
Michael Roby, senior accounting major and treasurer of Active Minds, said the workshops are to help reach beyond the stereotypes of mental hea
“Once people ask questions about mental health, we try to destroy the stigma behind it,” he said.
There are four different wellness workshops, each with its own theme.
The first workshop deals with strengthening emotional intelligence, which is the “awareness of and ability to manage one’s emotions in a healthy and productive manner,” according to Allpsych.com.
“A lot of us may be focused on I.Q. as it relates to being on a [college] campus,” Taylor said, “but your emotional intelligence is important, too.”
The second workshop, titled “Tug-of-war: Struggles with Anger,” focuses on understanding anger and finding ways to manage it appropriately.
The third workshop, “New to MSU,” is open to everyone, not just freshmen and transfer students. It will focus on time management, study strategies, stress management and building social skills.
When referring to building social skills, Taylor said her focus is to get students more connected on campus.
“If they can get out of their comfort zone and join an organization they can get more connected,” Roby said.
Deirdre Brockwell,  freshman chemical engineering major, found several of her friends through a student organization.
“I’m in the Anime Club, and we eat lunch pretty much every day, so I hang out with people,” she said.
The fourth workshop, “Understanding Depression,” is designed to help students manage sadness and develop more self-confidence.
Students are not required to participate in the screening process in order to be a part of the depression workshop, Taylor said.
“The wellness workshop series was created with all Mississippi State students in mind,” Taylor said. “We in student counseling services see it as our job to assist you in any way possible to make the best out of your time here as a college student.”