Juggling classes, social life, endless relationship podcasts, and achieving personal goals can take an emotional toll on college students. UNCF (United Negro College Fund) and The Steve Fund aim to address this by hosting an “unapologetically free” mental health awareness webinar on Jan. 31 for students attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

The interactive webinar, called “New Year, New Me: Taking Care of the ‘Me’ in Mental Health,” will focus on goal setting, positive visualization, and promoting self-care. Hosted by UNCF’s Institute for Capacity Building (ICB) and The Steve Fund, the event allows students to create personalized vision boards that inspire students to “improve their mental well-being and work towards a brighter future.”

UNCF formed its ICB in 2006, which provides direct support and technical assistance to 42 HBCUs and Predominantly Black Institutions, aiming to propel student success, community advancement and fight for educational equity and racial justice.

The Steve Fund is a leading organization that focuses on building understanding and supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color. The group hosts workshops and seminars, workforce initiatives, and offers higher education consulting.

According to research released last week by the American Heart Association (AHA), the effects of stress in teenage through adolescent years can last long into adulthood. Cardiometabolic health concerns may increase later in life, which includes type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressures and obesity, all of which contribute to an increased risk of heart disease, the study found.

The AHA offers tips on ways teens can decrease stress and ways parents can support teens who are struggling with mental health concerns.

The Steve Fund highlights four ways to break mental health stigma: ask for help, language matters, speak up and don’t isolate. The virtual event takes place Wed. Jan. 31 at 6:00 p.m. EST. Register here.

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