Graduate Student Wellness & Community Graduate Student Congress Promotes Wellness During Mental Health Awareness Week Events on Oct. 7 and Oct. 9 encourage mindfulness, movement, and connection across the University of Kentucky graduate community.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 7, 2025) — Graduate life is full of milestones — research breakthroughs, teaching moments, and long hours of focus — but behind every success is the need for balance, community, and care.
This week, the University of Kentucky Graduate Student Congress (GSC) is hosting Mental Health Awareness Week, a two-day event series designed to connect graduate students with wellness resources and encourage mindfulness amid busy academic schedules.
➡️ Learn more or join the events at https://bit.ly/48kEC2i
Building a Culture of Support
Graduate school can be one of the most transformative — and demanding — stages of a scholar’s life. Between coursework, research deadlines, and assistantship responsibilities, stress can quietly build. GSC’s goal this week is simple: to make conversations about mental health as routine as any discussion about academics.
To support that mission, the GSC is bringing together campus resources, student organizations, and wellness specialists to help students identify support networks that can sustain them throughout their academic journey.
Event Highlights
Virtual Resource Fair — October 7, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. (Zoom)
This one-hour online event will feature representatives from the UK Counseling Center, TRACS (Triage, Referral, Assistance, and Crisis Support), Student Financial Wellness, and Campus Recreation and Wellness. Students can explore services related to mental health, stress management, and academic success — all in one convenient session.
Yoga & Fitness Class — October 9, 8 a.m.–8:45 a.m. (Johnson Center)
On Thursday morning, GSC invites students to take a break from screens and join a yoga-based fitness class led by certified instructors. The class emphasizes mindfulness, breathing, and gentle movement — techniques proven to reduce anxiety and improve focus.
Creating Sustainable Success
Research consistently shows that graduate students experience higher-than-average rates of stress, anxiety, and burnout. At UK, faculty and staff are taking a proactive approach to reversing that trend through programming that highlights mental fitness as a key part of professional development.
For many students, attending an event like this week’s Yoga & Fitness Class may be the first step toward a more sustainable routine — one that includes boundaries, peer support, and open conversations about well-being.
How to Get Involved
Students are encouraged to attend one or both events — or to simply reach out to a fellow graduate student to check in this week. Building a culture of wellness starts with simple actions: taking a break, asking for help, and showing kindness.
➡️ Event details and registration links are available at https://bit.ly/48kEC2i.
Mental Health Awareness Week at a Glance:
- Virtual Resource Fair: Oct. 7, 11 a.m.–12 p.m., Zoom
- Yoga & Fitness Class: Oct. 9, 8 a.m.–8:45 a.m., Johnson Center
- Hosted by: Graduate Student Congress (GSC) at the University of Kentucky
As the week continues, UK’s Graduate School encourages all Wildcats to take a moment for themselves — whether through meditation, connection, or simply acknowledging how far they’ve come this semester.
At the University of Kentucky, wellness isn’t just part of the student experience — it’s what makes every step forward truly Wildly Possible.
➡️ Join the conversation and explore resources at https://bit.ly/48kEC2i