Self-Help Resources

There are many ways to strengthen your emotional health without ever setting foot in our office. We’ve gathered a set of customized online tools and links to support you in learning and practicing habits of mental wellness.

Interactive online tools

• Ulifeline screening

  ULifeline is a free and anonymous screening tool to help determine if a treatable mental health problem could be affecting you or a friend.

  Self Evaluator

• Therapy Assistance Online (TAO)
  

  Free psychoeducational videos, activity logs, and mental health tools are available through Therapy Assistance Online (TAO) for all Calvin students who are interested in strengthening emotional wellbeing.

  Learn more

Helpful links and apps

NOTE: Downloading and installing any software on personal devices is at the device owner's risk.

• Adoptee Experience
  • 15 Stories that Capture What It’s Like to be Adopted (HuffPost)
  • A Core Issue in Adoption: Identity (article by Sally Verstraete, LMSW)
  • The Adoptee Experience (Psychology Today article)
  • Adoptees On (podcast)
  • Adoptee Reading
  • Adoption Resources (Emily Helder)
  • A Felt Sense of our Value (podcast by Sally Verstraete, LMSW)
  • Adoptee-Therapist Directory
  • Harlow's Monkey
  • Korean American Adoptee Adoptive Family Network (KAAN)
  • Michigan Adoptee Collaborative
  • Rhonda Roorda
  • Rudd Adoption Research Program
  • West Michigan Adopted People

  Library Connection

  See our library resources here.
• Anxiety

  (including social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress)

  • Anxiety Disorders Association of America
  • Anxiety Self-Assessment
  • What is OCD?
  • OCD Facts
  • Mayo Clinic
  • National Institute of Mental Health
  • Test Anxiety
  • Anxiety Insights Magazine (Pine Rest)
  • The JED Foundation

  Helpful apps

  • Breathing Zone: Google Play
  • CBT-i Coach: App Store link
  • Mindshift: Google Play
  • Moodnotes: App Store
  • Headspace: App Store | Google Play
  • PTSD Coach: App Store link
  • Pacifica: App Store
  • Pause: App Store
  • Smiling Mind: App Store | Google Play
  • Virtual Hope Box: App Store | Google Play

  See our library resources here.

• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Center for Student Success
  • CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
  • National Institute of Mental Health
  • Understanding ADHD (Pine Rest)

  See our library resources here

• CRISIS SUPPORT
  • Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - 988 (or 800-273-TALK)
  • Safe Haven Ministries
  • YWCA
• Depression & Bipolar
  • American Psychological Association
  • Mayo Clinic
  • National Institute of Mental Health
  • Depression Insights Magazine (Pine Rest)
  • Understanding Bipolar Disorder (Pine Rest)

  Helpful apps

  • Optimism: Google Play
  • Moodnotes: App Store
  • Pacifica: App Store
  • Virtual Hope Box: App Store | Google Play

  See our library resources here.

• Eating disorders
  • Alliance for Eating Disorders (helpline, free virtual groups, & resources)
  • American Psychological Association
  • Center for Discovery Eating Disorder Evaluation
  • National Eating Disorders Association
  • National Institute of Mental Health

  See our library resources here.

• Grief
  • Hospice of Michigan
  • Mayo Clinic
  • Mental Help
  • New Hope Center for Grief Support (free virtual groups)
  • Half of Us
  • Understanding Grief (Pine Rest)

  See our library resources here.

• Helping a friend
  • 3 V-A-R Steps (Active Minds)
  • Be there for them (Mental Health is Health)
  • Friendships (The JED Foundation)
  • How Using ‘QPR’ Can Prevent Suicides (Psychology Today)
  • Seize the Awkward
  • How to Help Someone at Risk of Suicide
  • Intervene Bystander Campaign
• Mindfulness Meditation

  Websites

  • The Mindful Christian
  • Headspace
  • Self-Compassion (Kristin Neff)

  Audio Meditation Guides

  • UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center
  • University of Minnesota Center for Spirituality & Healing
  • Siegel, R.

  Interviews, Presentations and Videos

  • The Calling of Delight - Greg Boyle (Jesuit priest, author, founder of Homeboy Industries)
  • Pay Attention - Frederick Buechner (author)
  • Selective Attention - Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons (researchers & authors)
  • How to Make Stress Your Friend - Kelly McGonigal (health psychologist)

  Helpful apps

  • Insight Timer: App Store | Google Play
  • Headspace: App Store | Google Play
  • Pacifica: App Store
  • Smiling Mind: App Store | Google Play

  See our library resources here.

• Personal Growth
  • The Science of Well-Being (Yale)
  • Headspace
  • Brene Brown

  See our library resources here.

• Pornography
  • Beggar's Daughter
  • Cyber Sexual Addiction
  • Fight the New Drug
  • Sex Help

  Helpful apps

  • 6 of the Best Android Apps to Help You Beat Porn Addiction

  See our library resources here.

• Premarital Counseling

  Premarital counselors/workshops

  • Catholic Charities
    (616) 356-6289 / Site
  • Kristin Kuiper, MSW (983 Spaulding SE, Ada)
    (616) 682-7160 / Site
  • April Oglesby, LLMFT (1345 Monroe Ave, Ste 204, Grand Rapids)
    (616) 213-0894 / Site
  • Michelle Zomer, LMSW (103 College Ave SE, Ste 103, Grand Rapids)
    (616) 222-0424 / Site
• Pregnancy
  • Alpha Grand Rapids
  • Calvin Health Services
  • Calvin Title IX Coordinator
  • Pregnancy Resource Center
• Psychosis
  • Back to School Toolkit
  • Helping Your College Student Cope With Psychosis (Psychology Today)
  • Information for Individuals and Families (NASMHPD)
  • Michigan Minds Empowered
  • Strong 365
  • Students With Psychosis
  • Understanding Schizophrenia
• Relationships
  • The Gottman Institute
  • The 5 Love Languages
  • Boundaries
  • ePREP: Love Takes Learning online program
  • Our Relationship online program
  • One Love
  • Domestic Violence and Abuse (HelpGuide)
  • What is Domestic Abuse?

  See our library resources here.

• Self Harm
  • Understanding Self-Harm (Pine Rest)
  • Cutting and Self Harm (HelpGuide)
  • Self Harm (NAMI)
  • Support for Self-Harm Recovery (The Trevor Project)
  • Understanding Self-Injury (The JED Foundation)
  • Self Harm (The Recovery Village)
  • Self-Care (TWLOHA)

  Helpful apps

  • Calm Harm: App Store | Google Play
• Sexual assault & Misconduct
  • YWCA West Central Michigan
  • Calvin University Safer Spaces
  • RAINN
  • Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services (DASAS)
  • 1in6
  • Sexual Assault Prevention Team resources (Calvin University)
  • Victim Rights Information (Calvin University)
  • Safer Spaces Brochure
  • Sextortion Flyer (Calvin University)

  Crisis Support

  • National Sexual Assault Hotline: Call 800-656-HOPE (4673) or chat online
  • YWCA Crisis Line: 616-776-RAPE (7273)

  See our library resources here.

• Social Skills & Autism Spectrum
  • Succeed Socially
  • Improve Your Social Skills
  • Effective Communication
  • Master Conversation and Social Skills
  • Autism Speaks
  • Social Thinking

  See our library resources here.

• Stress & Self-Care
  • American Psychological Association
  • Stress Insights Magazine (Pine Rest)
  • Self-care (Active Minds)
  • We all have mental health (Mental Health is Health)
  • Tips for Managing Stress (The JED Foundation)
  • Press Pause (Half of Us)

  Helpful apps

  • Headspace: App Store | Google Play
  • Smiling Mind: App Store | Google Play
  • Optimism: Google Play
  • Moodnotes: App Store
  • Breathing Zone: Google Play
  • Pacifica: App Store
  • Pause: App Store
  • Virtual Hope Box: App Store | Google Play

  See our library resources here.

• Substance Use
  • AddictionCenter
  • Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters
  • Alcohol Assessment
  • Alcohol Screening
  • Alcoholics Anonymous
  • Campus Drug Prevention
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
  • Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration
  • College Drinking
  • Substance Use Disorder Insights Magazine (Pine Rest)
  • Tobacco QuitLink

  See our library resources here.

• Suicide Prevention
  • American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
  • The Jed Foundation
  • Speaking of Suicide blog/website
  • Preventing Suicide

  Crisis Support

  • Crisis Text Line – text HOME to 741741
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

  Helpful apps

  • My3: App Store

  Suicide Prevention Resources

  • ZeroSuicide Resources

  See our library resources here.

• Technology use
  • Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?
  • Can't put down the phone? How smartphones are changing our brains—and lives
  • Center for Humane Technology
  • Digital Wellness: Meaningful Daily Actions for Students
  • This Panda Is Dancing (Time Well Spent)
• Other mental health information
  • Half of Us
  • Mental Health Grace Alliance blog
  • Mental Help
  • National Institute of Mental Health
  • Step UP
  • The Desk
  • uLifeline
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
  • Pine Rest Blog

  Helpful Apps

  • Optimism: Google Play
  • Mood Meter: Google Play/App Store
  • Daylio: Google Play/App Store

  See our library resources here.