In late September 2024, Hurricane Helene ripped through the mountains and valleys of the High Country, destroying homes, buildings and terrain. One less-visible, lasting impact of the hurricane, is the impact on students’ mental health.

Ann DuPre Rogers is the executive director at Resources for Resilience, a nonprofit organization in Asheville that helps individuals from various backgrounds and locations access tools for managing stressful situations. She oversees the work of six staff members and approximately 100 workers contracted to provide workshops and training across the state and beyond, teaching methods for regulating the nervous system in times of stress.

Rogers said four of the six staff members reside in Western North Carolina along with one-third of the contracted team members. Available staff members traveled to Buncombe County to support those impacted by the storm in any way they could, from passing out water bottles to offering mental health resources.

The organization also set up a virtual platform for listening circles to connect impacted individuals to mental health support.

“It was kind of a combination of group response, one-on-one, helping get food, water and supplies, and then just connecting with people,” Rogers said. “We’re here. We don’t have all the solutions, but you’re not alone. We see you, we hear you.”

Rogers said the added stress of an event such as a major storm can impact college students who may already have stressors in their lives and said focusing on doing things that make students feel better is key.

Regardless of what one may be experiencing, whether it is a regular life stressor or a difficult event, Rogers said “taking care of yourself, doing things that make you feel good,” are important, such as going on walks or spending time with friends.

Having the fight, flight or freeze instinct can be useful and help protect individuals during a crisis, Rogers said. The real issue emerges when one stays in these instincts for multiple weeks. 

She said a fear of the unknown can be hard on the nervous system and, without knowing how a traumatic, stressful event will impact somebody long-term, can result in stress and anxiety.

Those who are still struggling and are experiencing symptoms of being “shut down” or “amped up” can reach out for additional support through a counseling center or student health services, Rogers said. 

She said there are exercises individuals can try to serve as a “rapid reset” — techniques to help regulate the nervous system and return to a calmer state. 

The first technique involves one crossing their arms, either at their shoulders or lower. Rogers said creating a tapping motion from side to side can work to calm the body as the individual becomes more in tune with what is happening with their body.

Another technique Rogers suggests is called orientating and involves looking around a space and taking in surroundings, slowing down to make observations and recognizing the surrounding environment is a safe space.

Finally, Rogers said the highlight tool can serve as a helpful resource. For this exercise, individuals consider a difficult time or story and acknowledge the hardships while recognizing positive things to come out of the situation. 

“There’s loss of property, of life, of so much,” Rogers said. “Lots of loss, lots of grief, lots of extreme stress, but also, so many stories of connection and love and neighbors helping neighbors and people coming to each other’s aid, and figuring it out together.”

Emma Drummond is a social work graduate student and a Master of Social Work intern doing clinical counseling and case management at App State’s Interprofessional Clinic. She typically helps older adults with aging assessments and other means of support. During the hurricane, she did check-ins, delivered supplies to residents and held face-to-face interactions with older adults, offering her support.

Drummond said it is often difficult for students to give themselves grace when it comes to longer-lasting effects after a big or traumatic event, especially when they compare their healing process to others. 

“Be gentle with yourself,” she said.

Drummond said students can reach out to grief support groups, many of which accommodate those experiencing many types of grief.

She said her time as a clinician during the storm influenced her to be more trauma-informed and she wants to continue her studies in similar avenues. 

Chris Hogan, a licensed psychologist who serves as the director of Counseling and Psychological Services Center at App State, said during the weeks following the storm, his team worked with emergency resources to have counselors present and available to students.

Hogan said, as is often the case following a disaster, people take care of their basic physical needs first.

He said the disruption of the semester impacted many students, leaving lingering feelings. 

Previous experiences, such as Hurricane Helene, can contribute to a student’s stress levels, even if they do not originally identify that as a stressor, Hogan said.

“Sometimes, we don’t recognize how significant of an impact something like that has,” Hogan said.

Finding a safe space where students can talk about their experiences can be helpful in the healing process, Hogan said.

“A lot of times, it’s just taking a step back to be able to talk about some of those experiences and those feelings and put meaning to it,” he said.

App State’s Counseling Center offers a program called “Let’s Talk” in which counselors are available every day of the week for a specified amount of hours in different locations, including a virtual option. Let’s Talk allows students to “drop in” and talk through a concern where they can then gain an objective perspective from a counselor.

Other useful resources Hogan said can help students looking for support include identifying past activities or routines that have previously been helpful and calming. Hogan said these helpful activities can be pushed to the side during periods of distress.

Hogan said he expects to see more students coming to the center and his goal is to normalize this and offer students means of support.

Accessing support from family or friends, getting involved with a club or organization and volunteering are resources students can turn to, allowing them to process past events, Hogan said.

App State’s Counseling Center has a list of self-help resources available on its website. Students can schedule appointments through the center or, for urgent mental health concerns, can walk in during normal business hours. A helpline for after-hour emergencies is available to connect students with a counselor on call. Students can call 828-262-3180 and follow instructions to speak with somebody on call.