SSW Students,

As we approach the end of Spring Quarter, this is/can be a historically stressful time for many. Should you need a safe, welcoming space of respite, please consider utilizing the Counseling Center for counseling options (inclusive of individual, group, career, and/or crisis modalities).  We have been informed that there are openings starting this week for new clients. Note that the services are offered at no charge to currently enrolled students- thanks to financial support from the Services & Activities Fee (SAF)!

Those in consideration for the UW Counseling Center can schedule online or call 206-543-1240.  If you have immediate needs, Husky Helpline is available for same-day consultation with a counselor, 24/7.

SSW Specific Mental Health Support

Moreso, if you are looking for in-house support, Lev Cunningham, our wonderful Mental Health Specialist works to serve the students of the SSW. Please consider their offered resources, & connecting with them for a soulfully nourishing space of healing.

To learn more about other resources to support you in your academic ventures (wellness, personal care, writing and academic tutoring, etc.), please peruse through your Canvas Module 4: How to Survive and Thrive.

The SSO team hopes that you all are safe, well, and met with nourishment. Please reach out if you need anything!

That’s a wrap on our 2023 – 2024 speaker series from UW Forefront Suicide Prevention – UW Research.

We heard from subject matter experts from different communities and perspectives all focused on preventing suicide. We hope you’ve found their presentations as informative and inspiring as we have!

Every session has been recorded and edited for you to stream on-demand for FREE. Sessions in this series include:

– A Comprehensive Approach to the Suicide Prevention presented by Jeffrey Sung, MD

– Understanding Grief after Suicide presented by Charlene Ray, MSW, LICSW

– Aging Communities presented by Lesley Steinman, PhD

– Black Communities presented by Paige Gaines

– Perinatal Mental Health presented by Deborah S. Cowley, MD

Stay tuned for more information about the 2024 – 2025 speaker series by following us on social media (links below) or going to our events page.

This series was made possible with the help of the Washington State Department of Health. 

Are you a graduating student? Join us for a month-long festivities just for you!

• May 13 & 14 | 9 a.m.–2 p.m.: UWAA’s Grad Week on Red Square (food, giveaways & quiz cart)
• May 16 | 6–8 p.m.: Hops & Headshots at Bale Breaker & Yonder Cider Taproom (social event & free headshots on a first-come, first-serve basis)
• May 17 | Sign up for free thank-you cards by May 17
• June 4 | 4–8 p.m.: Class of 2024 Grad-B-Q at Sylvan Grove (free event; requires advance registration)

The Counseling Center is searching for students, faculty, and staff who would be interested in serving on its advisory board for the 2024-25 academic year. Applications due May 20th. See information and flyer below.

Apply if you want to:

• make a difference in student mental health
• destigmatize mental health
• give voice to underserved students

Student Application: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=W9229i_wGkSZoBYqxQYL0ldf-vC6kQlGsVerqX_lR-RUMjJNM1owVzEzV1FMODBDSU9FNjFGN1RJRy4u

Faculty Staff Application: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=W9229i_wGkSZoBYqxQYL0ldf-vC6kQlGsVerqX_lR-RUMjJNM1owVzEzV1FMODBDSU9FNjFGN1RJRy4u

Read more

Join us for a panel dialogue on Monday, 4/29 with SSW faculty/staff/alumni to listen and reflect on how being a first-generation college student may shape experiences moving into your career.

Navigating Career Decisions & Experiences as a First-Gen Student

Date & Time: Monday, April 29th from 6:30-7:30pm

Zoom Link: https://washington.zoom.us/j/98759394075

RSVP for the panel, and other SSW Spring Career Series events here: https://forms.office.com/r/sKrj8RbCXg

Join us for a workshop on resources, rights, and advice for disabled+neurodivergent people navigating job hunts and career planning. Facilitated by the Disability Rights Washington.

Date & Time: Tuesday, May 7th from 6:30-7:30pm

Zoom link: https://washington.zoom.us/j/99111134838

RSVP for the workshop, and other SSW Spring Career Series events here: https://forms.office.com/r/sKrj8RbCXg

Join us for a Happy Hour for associate therapists and upcoming masters-level graduates, at Halcyon Brewing Company (8564 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103) on April 25^th at 6pm. Food and drinks will be provided, along with live music. There will be opportunities to connect with other associates, as well as with experienced supervisors from our group who regularly mentor associate clinicians. We will also take some time to talk about our Supervised Associate Program and discuss potential opportunities available with our group. 

Read more

Read more

Join us to honor and remember the lives of loved ones we have lost and in support of those who are struggling.

Contribute to the Remembrance Garden Alter (4/23-5/2)

Tuesday April 23rd from 9am-9pm

Agenda; Bring photos, mementos, write a note to add to the Remembrance Garden Alter at the Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center (ECC) Lobby Area

Closing Ceremony and Community Healing Program (5/2)

Thursday May 2nd, from 3-4:30pm

Agenda; Calling of Names, Words of Appreciation, and give away of Garden Alter succulents to attendees as a keepsake and loving remembrance.

Read more

The Mixed/Multiracial Student, Faculty, and Staff Affinity group is organizing a time to gather at the School of Social Work for folx who identify as Mixed and/or Multiracial. Bring your lunch and join us Friday, April 26th Noon – 1 pm @ SSW RM 116 (near the Gallery). We hope the time spent in shared community fills your cup with connection and belonging here at the School of Social Work. 

We look forward to seeing you soon!

SSW Mixed is a UW School of Social Work Mix/Multiracial Affinity Group for all students, faculty, and staff who identify as Mixed or Multiracial. 

Faculty Advisor: 

Shawnti Johnson  shawnti@uw.edu

UW School of Social Work Community – SWAPI Members (SWAPI is a UW School of Social Work AANHPI Affinity Group for MSW, BASW, and PhD students, staff, and faculty who identify as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander)

Please save the dates for the Spring Quarter SWAPI Events:

Thursday, 4/18, 5:30-7pm – SWAPI Dumpling Making Party, Room TBD in the SSW, RSVP by Monday, 4/15 so we can get food count for meat and vegetarian dumplings: https://forms.gle/86unwMVo7dXUgHnR7

Saturday, 4/20, 4:30-5:45pm Dinner, 6-8pm – Book Event ““Where I Belong: Healing Trauma and Embracing Asian American Identity,” published by Tarcher Perigee discussion with Yellow Chairs co directors at Mam’s Bookstore in the CID (Chinatown International District). You can RSVP here and read more details here. SWAPI dinner before the event at 4:30pm in the CID. Dinner RSVP by emailing Saul (saultran@uw.edu) or Shannon McKinney (smckin@uw.edu).

Thursday, May 9, 5:30-7:30pm,– UW School of Social Work AANHPI “Telling Our Stories” – digital stories and other AANHPI student, faculty, and staff stories, poems, and art. School wide event (open to the whole school and those outside of SWAPI are welcome) – Location tbd within SSW location. RSVP to come out later. Food provided.

Thursday, May 23, 5:30-7:30pm, SWAPI Graduation party. Location and details to come out later.

Summer Quarter!

Saturday, June 29, 9-1pm, UW SSW and SWAPI – Walk for Rice at Seward Park, ACRS (Asian Counseling and Referral Service’s) fundraiser for their food bank. Open to everyone in the school! Join our team or donate! https://give.acrs.org/team/575717

Hope to see you all soon!

Highlighting some upcoming wellbeing opportunities available to our students this Spring 2024. Prioritizing wellness is crucial, especially during busy academic periods, and these offerings aim to support our collective wellbeing. For inquiries, please contact stuwellb@uw.edu

1. **Psychoeducation Workshops**: Throughout this quarter, we’re hosting various workshops facilitated by our clinicians on various topics. These sessions will cover various techniques on healthy communication, stress management, intuitive eating, enhance focus, and many others. Or seeking to deepen your practice, these workshops offer valuable tools for self-care. Other workshops around relaxation and tarot for intuition to come later. Please see flyer below on information on these workshops and visit the Workshops and Groups Webpage for more information.

2. **Group Therapy** Sometimes one of the most effective ways to engage in therapy is in community, especially when loneliness is so prevalent. Group therapy can be an opportunity for students to work on a similar goal or take on a challenge, alongside a facilitating mental health therapist. Please see flyer below on information on these workshops and visit the Workshops and Groups Webpage for more information.

3. **Let’s Talk** Students may not be sure whether they want to seek out counseling or may not need counseling. There are times that students just want to connect and talk with someone. The UW Counseling Center is here to provide drop-in support for students from a therapist to talk about resources, or provide some insights. Students can drop in for in person Let’s Talk or a scheduled drop-in time. Learn more about Let’s Talk.

3.**Individual Counseling**: Our counseling center remains available to provide confidential support for students. Whether individuals are facing academic stress, personal challenges, or simply need someone to talk to, our licensed counselors are here to help. Encourage anyone in need of support to utilize this valuable resource at One to One Mental Health Support Webpage. Students can also schedule online on the UWCC Student Portal.

4.**Husky HelpLine – Urgent Support** There are times that things get hard, frustrating, or overwhelming and you need to talk to someone. Know that same-day support (operates 24/7) is available for our students through Husky HelpLine at 206.616.7777.  Another option is to call 988 for 24/7 access when in distress and for American Sign Language (ASL) support.

Hello hello EDP 3 students!

This is a final reminder to attend our EDP3 Gathering, happening today!

We warmly invite you to an EDP 3 Gathering, hosted by Wendy Lustbader and Student Services. We’ll gather in-person on Friday, March 29th from 4:30-6pm in the Social Work Research Commons (2nd floor, IPE Classroom 254C!). This will be a wonderful chance to reconnect with one another.

You can also attend virtually from 5:30pm-6pm here: https://washington.zoom.us/j/9348854040

Meeting ID: 934 885 4040

Please see the attached GSEE Spring Quarter Events Flyer to share with graduate students impacted by racism and its intersections. For full details regarding our events, stay tuned to our social media channels (@uwgsee). Students can receive GSEE weekly graduate student newsletters by signing up via this link. 

Save the date for GSEE’s Spring Soirée on Wednesday, May 22 at the wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House on UW Seattle’s campus. Spring Soirée is an annual signature event that celebrates continuing and graduating GSEE students with a reception and informal cording ceremony. Graduate students from all three campuses are welcome to attend. More details will be forthcoming. 

As you know, students are entitled to free, short-term counseling and group therapy while enrolled at UW (and one quarter post-enrollment!).  There is a new shared space for students, named the Between Cultures group- held Wednesdays from 3-4:30pm, with openings for spring quarter 2024. 

Interested students should email Lev Cunningham directly (zohlev@uw.edu) to schedule a brief intake, and be referred to the group facilitator, Saysha Clark (who is absolutely wonderful and an alum of our SSW school).

Group Description: “Between Cultures is an ongoing group for students who are connected to and identify with multiple cultures but may struggle with finding a full sense of belonging to these cultures. We will gather to support each other with our challenges, and also to celebrate our strengths.”

Husky HelpLine

UW Husky HelpLine is supported through TELUS Health Student Support (formerly My SSP) to give students access to real-time, same-day, confidential mental health and crisis intervention support, 24/7, and in multiple languages.

Phone: 206-616-7777. If calling from outside the U.S. or Canada, dial 001-416-380-6578
Online chat: Chat with a counselor on the web or on the app
App: Apple App Store| Google Play

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

The 988 Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. We’re committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness. The 988 Lifeline website includes resources for underserved and underrepresented communities.

Phone: 988 (English and Spanish)
TTY: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711, then 988.  
Online:  Chat with a counselor remotely.

National Domestic Violence Hotline

24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, the National Domestic Violence Hotline provides essential tools and support to help survivors of domestic violence so they can live their lives free of abuse. Contacts to The Hotline can expect highly trained, expert advocates to offer free, confidential, and compassionate support, crisis intervention information, education, and referral services in over 200 languages.

LiveWell Confidential Advocates – Seattle Campus

The Livewell Confidential Advocates provides a safe and confidential  space to help students, faculty and staff identify what they want or need after an incident of sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking or sexual harassment has occurred. Confidential Advocates do not report incidents to the University. We provide safe places to help individuals understand their rights and options including what options they have for reporting both on campus and in the larger community, always with the understanding that it is up to the individual to decide if they would like to report or not. Speaking with an Advocate is not reporting to the University or police

Schedule an appointment
Email: lwadvoc@uw.edu

Violence Prevention & Advocacy – Bothell campus

The Violence Prevention & Advocacy Program offers free advocacy and support for students affected by sexual assault, rape, relationship violence, domestic violence, stalking, sexual harassment, and other related experiences. Meeting with an advocate will not automatically lead to any kind of investigation by UW Bothell, Cascadia College, or the police.

Book an appointment
Email:  uwbvae@uw.edu

Confidential Advocate – Tacoma campus

The University of Washington Tacoma offers free advocacy and support for students affected by sexual assault, rape, relationship violence, domestic violence, stalking, sexual harassment and other related experiences. Advocacy is a safe and confidential starting point for any student affected by these issues.  Meeting with an advocate will not automatically lead to any kind of investigation by the university or the police

Ever hold yourself to unrealistically high standards? Ever been unfairly critical of yourself as a grad student? Do you find yourself preoccupied with thoughts of perfectionism? If these questions ring true for you, below are some strategies that can support you in working through perfectionism, so you can be your whole (and best!) self. <3

Feeling Anxious

Perfectionism can go hand in hand with feeling anxious. For example, you may be preoccupied with negative thoughts like, “There’s no way I’ll write a good final paper.” This kind of thinking can be exacerbated in academia, where it can appear as though everyone else has everything figured out. To manage this, try re-focusing your anxious thoughts and instead say to yourself, “I am working on this project one task at a time, and that is more than enough.” We know this is easier said than done, and yet just like with any wellness strategy, it will take consistent, regular practice.

Fearing Failure

Ever spend too much time over-thinking the same paragraph without going further on a draft? Sometimes it’s fear of failure that keeps us stuck in a rut. As with any project, a way to move past getting stuck in writing is to set realistic and manageable goals for yourself.

For example, rather than spending a lot of time on a single paragraph, try non-stop free writing for 15 minutes. While you are free writing, notice any perfectionistic feelings or thoughts but resist internalizing them. Take a five-minute break. Do another 15-minute round of writing. Afterwards, you might have at least two paragraphs (and one or two ideas) to add to your draft. Doing manageable rounds of writing can help you see that you are making progress.

Resisting Perfection

The stakes feel high in graduate school, especially during times when feel like you are somehow “not smart enough.” In these situations, you may feel the pressure to constantly prove yourself. This is unrealistic and can negatively impact your wellbeing. While it’s important to be open to feedback and guidance from advisors and mentors to grow on intellectual and professional levels, it’s also important to practice radical acceptance to let go of the need to be perfect.

Accepting: “this is good enough, I am good enough”

There are many things that happen in life that can throw us off our schedules. Accepting “this is good enough” means honestly knowing that you dedicated the time, effort, and resources to complete a project given everything you have to balance in life — and then it is time be done with the work. You tried your very best and that is ok!

Additional resources:

• Coping with Perfectionism, University of Michigan
• How to Manage Your Perfectionism, WebMD

If you find that perfectionistic thinking is negatively impacting your wellbeing, consider reaching out for support. The HuskyHelpline provides all UW students with access to real-time, same-day, confidential mental health and crisis intervention support, 24/7, and in multiple languages. You can also contact your Bothell, Seattle, or Tacoma campus counseling center to schedule an appointment.

We hope these tips are helpful to you and let us know what has worked for you!

~UW Graduate Student Affairs

You are invited to the 2023 Say It Out Loud Conference on May 22, 2023!

“Let’s Get Reel”: Showcasing the realities and experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals from a personal perspective as well as addressing needs and inequities driven by data and the use of evidence-based care. Let’s not shy away from topics, rather elevating them to promote change

Join us in-person this year for the 2023 Say It Out Loud Conference!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

SWAPI is a UW School of Social Work Affinity Group for students, staff, and faculty who identify as Asian and/or Pacific Islander

Hello,

Please save the Date for our next SWAPI meeting on Thursday, March 9 from 5:30-6:30pm on zoom only. Since many of us will be traveling for spring break the following week, we decided to move our meeting to zoom for March.

As requested – the topic will be Private Practice and we will have UW SSW alumni talk about their clinical private practice. We will have a panel of 4 private practice clinicians.

Please RSVP to get the zoom link here: https://forms.gle/MDSNFSbJ8x8hTmFV9

April’s SWAPI meeting will be Thursday, April 13 from 5:30-7pm in person and on zoom for another requested topic of getting a PhD, research, and all things PhD with two tenured track professors – Dr. Jane Lee and Dr. David Huh. The SWAPI Meeting(s) in May will probably be vision boards, alumni panel, and graduation party.

———————————————————————————————————————————————-

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to SWAPI Faculty Advisors or Student Leads:

Jennifer Brower jjb2@uw.edu

Saul Tran Cornwall saultran@uw.edu

Rio Hindami rhinda@uw.edu

katt Purington cmpurr33@uw.edu

Seattle’s PB process will work with community members to decide how to invest $27.2 million back into BIPOC communities. The funding for this PB program came from a $100 million fund earmarked by then Mayor Jenny Durkan after community groups demanded investments into Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities during the protests for Black lives in the summer of 2020. This is a great opportunity for you and your community to get involved, practice advocacy and leadership, and reinvest in our communities.

For more information on what participatory budgeting is, the links below have more information:

• https://pbseattle.org/
• https://www.blackbrillianceresearch.com/projects-participatory-budgeting?r_done=1

Opportunities are linked below. Please share this with the parents, youth, young adults, and community members in your Seattle networks to ensure they know about this process.

Participatory Budgeting Coordinator

Steering Committee: 

• The steering committee will inform design decisions for the Participatory Budgeting (PB) process, help appoint workgroup members and serve as a core accountability partner to PB stakeholders to ensure it meets the needs of Seattle residents impacted by systemic lack of investment in the City’s historically underserved communities.
• Click here to learn more about the criteria for roles on this committee, the selection process, and how to express interest.

Workgroups:

Group members will bring their specialized skills to the following workgroups:

• Accountability and Restorative & Proactive Safety Working Group
• Lived Experience & Outreach Workgroup
• Budget Delegate & Facilitation Workgroup
• Evaluation & Data
• If you would like to learn more about the workgroups and express interest, you can click here.

Youth Opportunities:

Dreams for Democracy: PB2 Idea Building Workshops

• where young people will get to decide how to spend $25,000 of the organization’s budget
• Wednesday, Feb 22nd at 3:00 pm Pacific.
• RSVP here or suggest an idea if they can’t make it

Virtual Youth Summit

• March 4, 2023, from 2:30 pm-4 pm. Register here
• March 10, 2023 from 5 pm- 6:30 pm. Register here

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