Black Bears Care Campaign

The Black Bears Care Campaign was created with the purpose of creating a culture of caring among the UMaine community and guiding faculty and staff in the promotion of health and wellbeing across campus. We believe that promoting mental health and wellbeing among our community is a shared responsibility across campus, and thus, we want to equip others with the skills and tools to make that possible. 

Goals

  • Increase knowledge and skills for frontline staff and faculty
  • Expand proactive and supportive procedures
  • Develop and maintain cohesive relationships and partnerships amongst departments
  • Identify and collect resource information and improve accessibility
Bananas the Bear in a cap and gown giving a high five to a line of graduating students also in caps and gowns.
Social Determinants of Health Wheel. Each section of the wheel has a different determinants. 5 determinants are economic stability, health care access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, social and community context. and education access and quality. Paragraph next to wheel reads, "Through improving the conditions of the environment where our students live, learn, and play, we increase the likelihood of success and positive healthy outcomes. "

What It Looks Like in Action

students sitting around a large wood table with a professor at the head of the table
UMaine blue pennant

Black Bears Care Presentation

For those looking for a dialogue about how to incorporate mental wellness into their space, the Counseling Center offers a training that covers preventative population health strategies as well as a brief look into responding to crises.

Crisis Assessment and De-escalation (CAD 100 & CAD 150)

Our CAD trainings teach signs of distress, crisis assessments and management, and de-briefing. CAD 150 builds on the foundation of CAD 100, introducing more advanced skills and concepts.

Black Bears Care
Tool-kit

We know that lives are busy and time is precious so we have created a tool-kit composed of actionable steps that you can take to ensure your environment, whether that’s the classroom, office, or club, is promoting wellness.

Explore the Tool-Kit

Eliminating educational barriers to improve the learning experience

  • Consider timing of exams and assignments to decrease avoidable stress
  • Provide constructive feedback
  • Be transparent with the amount of time some assignments may take- poll students for feedback 
  • Follow suggestions from SAS
  • Provide students with choices to enhance their feelings of control

Bringing an awareness of financial burdens and potential resources to the classroom

  • Take into consideration the cost of course materials and provide alternatives if possible
  • Share about job opportunities on campus and in your field 
  • Educate yourself about resources available on campus to aid financial insecurity
Director of the Counseling Center sitting her her office with a former student.

Promoting health through in-class activities and awareness of resources

  • Consider inviting mental and physical health professionals from other departments to speak to your group about their resources on campus 
  • Encourage students to take care of their physical and mental health with a clear policy about absences due to illness
  • Incorporate mindfulness practices into your class (office, lab, etc.)  through reflective journaling prompts and guided meditations (link to YouTube)
Anthropology class having class on the mall

Creating an environment that promotes learning and connection

  • Be mindful of lighting, noise control, and temperature
  • Ensure the chairs/tables are not all connected to accommodate different bodies
  • Play music or have an ice-breaker to welcome people into the space
  • Provide reasonable accommodations for those with different abilities
  • Promote feelings of safety and predictability by maintaining professional boundaries and meeting in public places (or with the door open)

Fostering a sense of belonging and community
Encourage group projects and study groups

  • Ask students to share their email or phone number with at least one other classmate (or work mate or cohort member) in case they miss a class or need a study partner
  • Consider think-pair-share activities to get peers talking to one another
  • Encourage group projects and study groups
  • Share about your professional journey
  • Provide clear expectations, set protocols for challenging topics and dialogue and provide reasonings for doing so.

Outreach Program Request Form

To request a program, presentation, or workshop from the counseling center, please complete this form.

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Outreach Program Request Form

To request a program, presentation, or workshop from the counseling center, please complete the form below.

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