MiTalk Homepage

Welcome to MiTalk!

Introduction

MiTalk is a website created specifically for students at the University of Michigan; it doesn’t matter what your major is; whether you are a graduate or undergraduate; or attend U-M Flint or Dearborn. On this site, you will find a number of resources such as online screenings for depression and anxiety, to skill-building tools for stress management and academic skills, as well as digitally recorded lectures, events and workshops. Also for those students who are interested you will be able to view and download two-minute exercise videos on yoga, progressive muscle relaxation and guided meditation.

Why a website?

This project was actually proposed by the students from the U-M community through the Michigan Healthy Communities Initiative’s (MHCI) Student Health and Wellness Sub-Committee, who used town hall style meetings to identify student health needs. Through their efforts they found that a university-affiliated website is an ideal place to provide undergraduate and graduate students with health information and resources since all students have computers available to them at campus computing sites, and most have computers in their residences. In addition, students trust university websites as a reliable source of information. To download the student proposal for the site,  click here.

How does it work?

The novelty of this website lies in its interactivity. By providing demographic information, the site will provide you specific resources and recommendations for how to improve your mental health. In addition to offering links to campus resources, MiTalk will also provide online screenings for mental health disorders, skill building components, and basic information on how to be a support person to someone struggling with their mental health.

When you first go to the site, you will be asked to fill out a profile. The purpose of this is to help us recommend specific mental health information to you. This is especially important if you are coming to this site not necessarily for yourself, but to find information to help a friend or family member.

I don’t have a mental illness so why should I care about going to this website?

First off, this website is not just about providing information on mental illness, but about providing info on mental health!

That being said, there are lots of reasons we can give you, but the truth of the matter is that U-M can be a very stressful place and that stress can cause us to feel all sorts of things. We all have or know someone who has had to cope with some sort of crisis while they were here. You probably know someone who had trouble dealing with their own stress, someone who had to deal with a tough situation like a death in the family or a relationship breaking up, or maybe even knowing someone with depression. With this website, we hope to provide you with resources, so you’ll know what to do and where to refer someone that comes to you seeking help. It’s not meant to “train” you to be a counselor, but to teach you how to be supportive.

What else is U-M doing for students when it comes to Mental Health?

MiTalk is part of a larger effort on behalf of U-M to provide a comprehensive approach to mental health. This will include an awareness campaign called do something, providing suicide prevention training for students, faculty, and staff called  QPR, and a host of activities involving student groups such as SHARE,  PULSE,  Finding Voice to help us create a web of support for students at the University of Michigan. For a list of events that are happening around campus  click here.