Discover & Discuss: National Wellness Month

Two college students ride their bicycles on The Mall's sidewalks. Hamerschlag Hall can be seen in the distance. (c.1985)

Archival image (c.1985) found in the CMU Digital Collections

August's theme is National Wellness Month, a time to reflect on the habits, relationships, and resources that support overall well-being. Wellness looks different for everyone. Shaped by individual experiences and personal goals, it is an ongoing process that evolves alongside the changing demands of daily life.

The start of a new academic year often brings new opportunities, responsibilities, and routines. Whether you're returning to campus or beginning your first semester, this transition offers a chance to establish habits that support both personal well-being and academic success.

This month's collection explores a range of perspectives on wellness, from managing stress and building resilience to creating healthy routines that can be sustained over time. Pair these resources with the support available through CMU Community Health and Well-Being to discover ideas that can help you navigate the semester with intention and balance.

Special thanks to our Materials Processing Coordinator, Leah Zande, for compiling the list.

Helpful websites:

eBooks

The Ultimate Anxiety Toolkit : 25 Tools to Worry Less, Relax More, and Boost Your Self-Esteem
Williams, Risa; Way, Amanda; Whitney, Jennifer (2021)

The Ultimate Anxiety Toolkit : 25 Tools to Worry Less, Relax More, and Boost Your Self-EsteemAnxiety can feel like a huge number of different things to a huge variety of people. No matter the experience, they all have one thing in common: feeling anxiety is never fun. If you're looking to manage your anxious feelings and reduce your stress, this is the book for you.

Written by a therapist who specializes in helping people navigate anxiety, the chapters contain 25 creative tools specifically designed to help reduce anxiety in five key areas: stress, social anxiety, anxious thoughts, self-esteem and the future.

The tools draw on CBT, mindfulness, narrative therapy, positive psychology and more, and every single one is focused on giving practical advice and simple steps that you can take today to reduce your anxiety and boost your self-esteem. - Publisher's Description

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Complete Guide to Sleep Care: Best Practices for a Restful and Happier You
Ely, Kiki (2022)

Complete Guide to Sleep Care : Best Practices for a Restful and Happier You"The Complete Guide to Sleep Care" features 75 accessible methods to improve your sleep that will make you feel refreshed and ready to face the world. 

Scientific studies have shown that getting good sleep improves every area of our lives, giving us more energy, increased cognitive function, and better moods all day long. This book will help you understand the importance of sleep, overcome stressful experiences, conquer negative emotions, develop positive thinking, and cultivate a healthy lifestyle. 

Learning about insomnia, including common types and primary causes, will help you zero in on the areas in your life that need work, and a daily sleep log will help you discover your sleep patterns and troubleshoot your sleep issues. - Publisher's Description

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The Body Positivity Card Deck: 53 Strategies for Body Acceptance, Appreciation and Respect
Matz, Judith; Pershing, Amy (2020)

The Body Positivity Card Deck : 53 Strategies for Body Acceptance, Appreciation and RespectWith these simple practices, reflections, and inspirations you'll learn to find appreciation for your body. 

This deck contains 53 unique healing strategies that will guide you to build self-confidence and respect for the body that you have—and help to create a more inclusive world. 

The cards are divided into four easy-to-navigate categories: (1) Self-Compassion. Relate to yourself with kindness and care, (2) Body Image. Cultivate acceptance, appreciation, and respect, (3) Mindfulness. Notice thoughts, feelings, and sensations in the present without judgment, and (4) Self-Care. Practice positive, sustainable behaviors for physical and emotional wellbeing. - Publisher's Description

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A Pedagogy of Surprise: Exploring Gifts, Wonder, and Gratitude in Curricular Settings
Brown, Keith (2025)

A Pedagogy of Surprise : Exploring Gifts, Wonder, and Gratitude in Curricular SettingsWhat would your classroom be like if you could see it as something surprising, novel, and fresh in every moment? What are the unique gifts that students and teachers alike bring to classrooms? Through a combination of robust theory, in-depth scholarship, and practical exercises for teachers, "A Pedagogy of Surprise" is a vital resource that allows teachers to explore how they can bring a sense of wonder, surprise, and gratitude into their experiences of the classroom. It will delight and inspire anyone with an interest in using contemplation, mindfulness, and reflection to enhance teacher wellness. 

Topics include how a phenomenology of surprise can inform and enhance the teaching and curricular experience, the gift economy as applied to the classroom, the meaning and scope of gratitude practices in curricular settings, and applications of surprise, gifts, and gratitude to teaching. The final chapter includes inspiring visualizations that teachers of any grade can apply to feel more gifted, surprised, and connected within their classroom milieu. - Publisher's Description

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How to Be Grateful: An Aztec Guide to the Art of Gratitude
Texcoco, Pablo of; Karttunen, Frances; Townsend, Camilla (2025)

How to Be Grateful: An Aztec Guide to the Art of GratitudeCenturies before anyone ever thought of keeping a gratitude journal, the Aztecs understood the profound value of being grateful. For generations, specially trained Aztec public speakers presented traditional dialogues at marriages, births, funerals, government ceremonies, and other important occasions. In these dialogues, people of different generations are imagined speaking to each other with mutual respect and gratitude across time, encouraging listeners to be grateful to their contemporaries, elders, and ancestors, as well as the divine, and reminding the living what they owe to future generations. In the late 1500s, one of these Aztec speakers, Pablo of Texcoco, recorded a collection of these dialogues, now known as the Bancroft Dialogues. In "How to Be Grateful," Nahuatl- or Aztec-language specialist Frances Karttunen and Camilla Townsend, Cundhill History Prize–winning author of "Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs," present this fascinating work in an accessible translation that also features the original Nahuatl text on facing pages. 

Although Pablo lived under Spanish rule, his parents, grandparents, and elderly teachers recalled the world before the Europeans arrived, and his dialogues, which delight in colorful metaphors and wry humor, offer remarkable insights into preconquest Aztec society, philosophy, and language. Pablo’s dialogues tell readers they will be loved and honored today and by future generations if they repay those who have helped them—the living, the dead, and the divine. The living should pay these debts by helping their people and ensuring their future—by “paying it forward” as we say today. - Publisher's Description

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Self-care and Stress Management for Academic Well-being
Clarke, Karis (2022)

Self-care and Stress Management for Academic Well-beingSelf-care is a topic that is often challenging in education. Educators are required to learn to teach, advise, and cope with organizational change as well as encourage their students to take responsibility for their actions, say no, identify burnout, establish a network of family and friends, schedule breaks, do things they enjoy, and take care of themselves physically. However, teachers often do not follow these guidelines themselves. It is important that teachers allow themselves the time and space to do the same things that they insist their students do. Moreover, it is important that administrators recognize and support these efforts as well. 

"Self-Care and Stress Management for Academic Well-Being" discusses why self-care for educators is needed in order for them to sustain the growth of the students at their institutions. It explores the ways in which educators devote themselves to helping students develop their creativity and their academic voices but do not always give themselves the same permission. Covering a range of topics such as physical care, stress, and self-advocacy, this reference work is ideal for researchers, academicians, practitioners, scholars, administrators, instructors, and students. - Publisher's Description

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Say 'No' To Exam Stress: The Easy to Use Programme to Survive Exam Nerves
James, Anthony (2021)

Say 'no' to exam stress : the easy to use programme to survive exam nervesExams are important. The results can change lives and stressing about them can damage performance and undermine young peoples' confidence. This exam stress management programme requires very little time or effort to use and provides a straightforward, practical guide to exam stress management. 

Written by an experienced educational psychologist, this short, explanatory book is accompanied by simple, easy to follow audio files which lead the listener through a sequence of five relaxation sessions to reduce stress, increase focus and plan for success. Using the book as a guide you simply listen to the audio tracks and follow what they say. All tracks have been designed so that they are easy to digest and applicable in the middle of a busy day. - Publisher's Description

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College Student Mental Health and Wellness: Coping on Campus
Hayes, Jeffrey (2024)

College Student Mental Health and Wellness: Coping on CampusRecent data indicates that the psychological distress of college students is on the rise. College students are increasingly culturally diverse and psychological distress in some areas is greater for minoritized students. "College Student Mental Health and Wellness" addresses this phenomenon that has been referred to in the popular media as the ‘college mental health crisis’ in a comprehensive and data-driven way. 

Jeffrey A. Hayes moves us forward in our understanding of these issues so that we might more effectively work with our students and those who support them. Chapters cover theories of college student development and common psychological problems among college students (including anxiety, depression and substance abuse), and important aspects of college student well-being (such as identity, peer relationships and career preparedness). 

Drawing on a large amount of data collected from both students in the general population as well as those seeking mental health services at U.S. colleges and universities, "College Student Mental Health and Wellness" illuminates the types of distress on the rise, the potential underpinnings of this distress and how administrators, educators, mental health professionals and others might better understand and work with these issues. - Publisher's Description

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College Mental Health 101: A Guide for Students, Parents, and Professionals
Willard, Christopher; Aguirre, Blaise; Green, Chelsie (2025)

College Mental Health 101: A Guide for Students, Parents, and ProfessionalsWith a growing number of students entering college with an existing mental health diagnosis, "College Mental Health 101" offers hope and clear direction to those struggling with mental illness. 

There is an undeniable mental health crisis on campuses these days. More students are anxious, depressed, drinking, and self-harming than ever before. The statistics are startling: 50% of mental health issues begin by age 14, 75% by age 24, while suicide is the second leading cause of death among young adults. And yet even while more students are struggling, more students than ever are breaking through stigma, seeking help, and sharing openly in person and social media about their challenges. 

"College Mental Health 101" offers more answers, relief, resources, and research backed information for families, students, and staff already at college or beginning the application process. With simple charts and facts, informal self-assessments, quick tips for students and those who support them, the book includes hundreds of voices addressing common concerns. Basics like picking and contacting a therapist, knowing your rights, disclosing to friends and family, advice on medication and time off, are all covered in brief digestible sections. The book also offers support and understanding to families and friends of struggling students who are often uncertain of where else to turn for expert advice. Packed with hundreds of expert and student voices, three diverse experts in the field have assembled the right resources at the right time. - Publisher's Description

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Creating a Place for Self-care and Wellbeing in Higher Education: Finding Meaning Across Academia
Lemon, Narelle (2022)

Creating a Place for Self-care and Wellbeing in Higher Education: Finding Meaning Across AcademiaThe workplace has significant influence over our sense of wellbeing. It is a place where many of us spend significant amounts of our time, where we find meaning, and often form a sense of identity. "Creating a Place for Self-care and Wellbeing in Higher Education" explores the notion of finding meaning across academia as a key part of self-care and wellbeing. 

In this edited collection, the authors navigate how they find meaning in their work in academia by sharing their own approaches to self-care and wellbeing. In the chapters, visual narratives intersect with lived experience and proactive strategies that reveal the stories, dilemmas, and tensions of those working in higher education. This book illuminates how academics and higher education professionals engage in constant reconstruction of their identity and work practices, placing self-care at the centre of the work they do, as well as revealing new ways of working to disrupt the current climate of dismissing self-care and wellbeing. 

Designed to inspire, support, and provoke the reader as they navigate a career in higher education, this book will be of great interest to professionals and researchers specifically interested in studies in higher education, wellbeing, and/or identity. - Publisher's Description

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The Adult ADHD and Anxiety Workbook: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Skills to Manage Stress, Find Focus, and Reclaim Your Life
Ramsay, J. Russell; Tuckman, Ari (2024)

The Adult ADHD and Anxiety Workbook : Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Skills to Manage Stress, Find Focus, and Reclaim Your LifeStruggling with adult ADHD and anxiety? You’re not alone―and you don’t have to treat them separately. If you have attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), you may struggle with focus, follow-through, emotional regulation, and rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD). Add anxiety―constant worry, tension, or overthinking―and everyday life can feel overwhelming. It’s no surprise that adults with ADHD are twice as likely to experience anxiety disorders. 

Treating just one condition often isn’t enough. You need a unified, practical approach designed specifically for the overlap between ADHD and anxiety. In "The Adult ADHD and Anxiety Workbook," psychologist and ADHD expert Russell Ramsay presents an evidence-based program grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)―the gold standard treatment for anxiety―adapted specifically for adults with ADHD. This structured workbook provides step-by-step strategies to help you manage both conditions at the same time. - Publisher's Description

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Self-care for Autistic People: 100+ Ways to Recharge, De-stress, and Unmask!
Neff, Megan Anna (2024)

Self-care for Autistic People: 100+ Ways to Recharge, De-stress, and Unmask!Ditch the stigma, celebrate your identity, and put yourself first with these 100+ exercises that reinforce the idea that neurodiversity is a strength and teaches you how to relax, destress, find your community, practice self-love, and more. 

When you’re autistic, it can be tough to prioritize wellness. "Self-Care for Autistic People" can help you engage in some neurodivergent self-care—without pretending to be neurotypical. You’ll find more than 100 activities that help you accept yourself, destigmatize autism, find your community, and take care of your physical and mental health. You’ll find solutions for managing the challenging aspects of autism, as well as ideas to bring out the many positive aspects. With expert advice from therapist Megan A. Neff, this book will help you make the most of your life and your diagnosis. - Publisher's Description

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Mindfulness & Wide-awakeness in Higher Education
Montgomery, Sarah (2023)

Mindfulness & wide-awakeness in higher educationHow can we support our college students cultivating wide-awakeness, or a way of paying attention and being fully present to oneself and the world? How might we use mindfulness practices to help ourselves and our students become more wide awake, realize our interconnectedness, see what is possible, and transform our lives and the world around us? Educational philosopher Maxine Greene called for the need to intentionally promote wide-awakeness, which includes deepening our awareness, asking critical questions, recognizing that alternatives exist, and finding the agency to make changes personally and collectively. 

"Mindfulness & Wide-Awakeness in Higher Education" draws upon Greene’s work to explore the voices and experiences of college students who engaged in mindfulness practices during every class session in a cohort over an academic year and others who participated in a mindfulness group that met weekly for a year. The book explores how students used mindfulness to support their academic success, create a culture of connectedness, promote increased empathy, and fuel their sense of agency regarding social interactions and teaching the practices to others. In particular, the voices of students of color who chose to participate in the weekly mindfulness group are elevated and honored. 

A culminating chapter provides numerous examples of the mindfulness practices taught throughout the two-year study, serving as an accessible guide for higher education professionals interested in doing this work who would like ideas for where to begin or how to further develop their teaching and student support services. Overall, the book provides rich insights and practical approaches for how higher education faculty and staff can work together with students so we can all become more wide-awake to what is possible in our hearts, in our classrooms, on our campuses, and beyond. - Publisher's Description

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Promoting Mindfulness, Flourishing, and Wellness in Higher Education Through the Arts
Son, Nguyen Duc (2026)

Promoting Mindfulness, Flourishing, and Wellness in Higher Education Through the ArtsWith the rise of academic pressure, digital overload, and mental health challenges, higher education institutions seek holistic approaches to support student and faculty well-being. The arts offer a transformative path for mindfulness, flourishing, and wellness in academic communities. Through creative practices like music, visual arts, theater, and creative writing, individuals are encouraged to cultivate awareness and express emotions in meaningful ways. Integrating the arts into higher education may enhance personal well-being while fostering connection, resilience, and a more inclusive learning environment. 

"Promoting Mindfulness, Flourishing, and Wellness in Higher Education Through the Arts" explores the function of the arts in fostering mindfulness and well-being within higher education environments. It provides foundational theories, methods for applying arts in mindfulness, and case studies of how universities around the world have integrated the arts into their curricula and student life to promote mental health. This book covers topics such as social media, music therapy, and inclusive education, and is a useful resource for educators, psychologists, artists, academicians, researchers, and scientists. - Publisher's Description

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Physical Health, Mental Health, and Human Well-Being in the Age of AI
Kittisak Jermsittiparsert; Marzo, Roy (2025)

Physical Health, Mental Health, and Human Well-Being in the Age of AIAmidst the complexities of modern life, the importance of human well-being in its various dimensions is a continual priority. As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes a key influence in nearly every facet of modern life, it raises essential questions about the current and future state of human health and well-being. While AI has the potential to revolutionize healthcare, enhance mental health support, and improve overall quality of life, it also presents challenges regarding privacy, ethical considerations, and the impact of automation on human relationships and mental health. Navigating these opportunities and concerns requires a balanced approach to ensure that technological advancements align with the holistic needs of individuals and communities. 

"Physical Health, Mental Health, and Human Well-Being in the Age of AI" explores the evolving landscape of health in a technology-driven world. Beyond healthcare, the book also examines the broader implications of AI on social well-being, environmental health, and the future of work and education. Through expert insights and empirical research from around the globe, this book provides invaluable knowledge for researchers and practitioners alike, and appeals to readers from a broad spectrum of disciplines. - Publisher's Description

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Mental Health and Well-being Interventions in Sport: Research, Theory and Practice
Breslin, Gavin; Leavey, Gerard (2024)

Mental Health and Well-being Interventions in Sport: Research, Theory and PracticeMental health within elite sport has traditionally been ignored, but recent research has shown that competitive sport can at times seriously undermine mental health and that athletes are exposed to specific stressors that hinder their mental health optimisation. 

"Mental Health and Well-being Interventions in Sport" provides an indispensable guide for researchers and practitioners wanting to understand and implement sport-based intervention processes. This important book adopts an evidenced based approach, discussing the context of the intervention, its design and implementation, and its evaluation and legacy. With cases on depression, eating disorders, and athletic burnout, the book is designed to provide practitioners, policy makers and researchers with a cutting-edge overview of the key issues involved in this burgeoning area, while also including cases on how sport itself has been used as a method to improve mental health. 

Written for newcomers and established practitioners alike, the text is an essential read for researchers and practitioners in better understanding the sport setting-based intervention processes through presenting current research, theory and practice, applicable in a variety of sports settings and contexts. - Publisher's Description

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Well-being and Creative Careers: What Makes You Happy Can Also Make You Sick
Deuze, Mark (2025)

Well-being and Creative Careers: What Makes You Happy Can Also Make You SickThe media and creative industries thrive on passion, but that passion often comes at a cost. Behind the glamour of journalism, filmmaking, games, music, advertising, and online content creation lies a growing crisis—one of burnout, anxiety, substance abuse, and exhaustion. Why do so many creative professionals report feeling both deeply fulfilled and profoundly unwell? 

Mark Deuze investigates the systemic issues that make creative work both exhilarating and unsustainable. Drawing on extensive research and in-depth interviews with media professionals, he notes the hidden downsides of doing what you love and offers a candid analysis of how workplace structures, high workloads, and perceived injustices contribute to mental and physical distress. 

But this book is not just about what’s broken; it’s about what can be done. Deuze provides a roadmap for rethinking the culture of creative industries and offers strategies for balancing passion with sustainability. A practical resource for media scholars and those navigating the highs and lows of a creative career, this work challenges us to imagine a healthier future for our labor of love. - Publisher's Description

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Promoting Healthy Behaviour: A Practical Guide to Physical Health and Mental Wellbeing
Upton, Dominic; Thirlaway, Kathryn (2024)

Promoting Healthy Behaviour: A Practical Guide to Physical Health and Mental WellbeingThe new edition of this leading text is an essential guide to promoting healthy behaviour in a multi-cultural society, providing a holistic stance that integrates both physical and mental health and wellbeing. 

With a comprehensive overview of the interplay between social class, gender, ethnicity and individual health differences, the book also looks at key lifestyle issues such as eating well, smoking, drinking alcohol and safe sex, as well as the mechanisms for behavioural change. Each chapter features engaging case studies, points for discussion and student activities. Updated since the COVID-19 pandemic, the new edition also discusses the effects of lockdowns on healthy behaviours. 

An accessible and engaging text, the third edition of "Promoting Healthy Behaviour" will continue to be essential reading for both students and practitioners across nursing, public health and allied health professions. - Publisher's Description

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Supporting Psychological and Emotional Wellbeing Among Entrepreneurs
Tunio, Muhammad Nawaz (2025)

Supporting Psychological and Emotional Wellbeing among EntrepreneursEntrepreneurs today face many challenges, from fierce competition to economic uncertainties. Yet, amidst these external pressures, the internal struggles of maintaining psychological and emotional well-being are often overlooked. This neglect not only affects entrepreneurs personally but also profoundly impacts their businesses. Female entrepreneurs, in particular, face unique hurdles that can significantly impact their mental peace and hinder their success. 

"Supporting Psychological and Emotional Wellbeing Among Entrepreneurs" presents a timely solution, urging researchers and practitioners to reevaluate the importance of mental health in entrepreneurship. By exploring topics such as stress management, harassment, and promoting positive work environments, the book offers concrete strategies to enhance entrepreneurs' well-being. Through a comprehensive examination of social and moral values in entrepreneurship, it seeks to equip entrepreneurs and stakeholders with the tools needed to create supportive and empowering work environments. - Publisher's Description

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Student Well-Being in Higher Education Institutions
Aloka, Peter Jo (2024)

Student Well-Being in Higher Education InstitutionsHigher education institutions grapple with a pressing challenge: the well-being of their students. Amidst the transition to university life, students face a myriad of stressors, from academic pressures to managing finances and social connections. Yet, there needs to be more robust evidence and focused literature addressing this critical issue. 

Delving deep into the complexities of student well-being, "Student Well-Being in Higher Education Institutions" presents a comprehensive analysis of the factors influencing mental, emotional, and social health in higher education settings. This book explores the intrinsic and extrinsic elements shaping student well-being through meticulously curated chapters, from risk factors to protective mechanisms. By offering evidence-based strategies and practical recommendations, the book empowers readers to proactively address students' challenges, fostering a supportive environment conducive to flourishing. 

As a vital resource, this book is a roadmap for enhancing student well-being in higher education institutions. With contributions from leading experts and scholars, it provides a holistic understanding of the issues. It equips readers with the tools needed to effect positive change. Whether a seasoned academic, a university administrator, or a student counselor, this book offers invaluable insights and actionable steps toward promoting the well-being of students in today's universities. - Publisher's Description

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