Moody Cares Reminds Students to Take Care of Themselves in the Midst of The Semester

By Paisley Porter

Reporting Texas

Students add sticky notes to a mirror, asking what their favorite things about themselves are, at Moody Cares. Paisley Porter/Reporting Texas

October is Mental Health Awareness Month, and at the University of Texas at Austin, Students at the Moody College of Communication are finding creative ways to prioritize their mental well-being. 

Moody Cares is a semesterly event designed to support students through the stress of midterms with smiles and self-care. 

Students gathered at the Walter Cronkite Plaza to enjoy free snacks and snow cones, play with support animals and write notes of encouragement to their peers.

“We put a lot of stress on ourselves as college students… classes, working, extracurriculars, orgs, all of that, so knowing when to make time for yourself in between all of that is really important,” said Mia Ontiveros, a Moody graduate student. 

One of the key goals of Moody Cares is to destigmatize the conversation around mental health. Counselors from CARE, the Counseling and Mental Health Center’s outreach team, were on site to introduce themselves to students and start the conversation.

Perrin Jones, a CARE counselor who attended the event, emphasized the importance of visibility and accessibility. 

“Moody Cares is a great way to come together as our Moody community, be able to engage in wellness, have some fun, and be able to remember that Moody does care and we have all of these wonderful resources available to students,” Perrin said.

Perrin said one in five adults experience mental health struggles, and a study conducted by the University showed that students’ main concerns are academic pressure, stress, anxiety and depression. Events like Moody Cares help students take a second to breathe amid their hectic schedules.

“Whether it’s something as simple as them catching up on the day, maybe meeting a student for the first time — some of that organic conversation is kind of an intended goal,” said Kyle Clark, Assistant Dean and event organizer. “The other aspects of the event that we have are intended to build community.”

While students talked over snow cones and spent time with animals, they found strength in community — especially the one at Moody. 

“We have so many services available to students,” Perrin said. “The hardest part is usually taking that first step, but it’s the most important part.”

Moody Cares returns each semester as a reminder that wellness is a necessity. For students feeling overwhelmed, the Counseling and Mental Health Center offers support year-round. You can find resources and more information [here].