What's the "be aware" Program?
be aware is a brief (20-30 min) online mental health program in Canvas. Whether you're helping a friend who is feeling depressed, checking in on a student who is struggling, or noticing that you need someone to talk to, this program equips students, faculty, and staff to be aware of signs of concern, have skills to take action, and know where to get support.
What You'll Learn:
be aware includes an overview of college mental health trends along with 3 modules: signs, skills & support.
The program covers:
- Signs of stress, distress, & crisis
- Active listening techniques to help others
- Skills to share your own feelings and build connection
- Counseling services, campus resources & 24/7 support
- Self-care activities & helpful handouts
Who It’s For:
If you’re part of the Penn community, this course is for you! Whether you’re brand new to mental health conversations or just want a refresher, all Penn students, faculty, postdoctoral researchers and scholars, and all staff are invited to enroll.
When and Where You Can Take It:
Anytime, anywhere. It’s completely self-paced and available online whenever it works for you.
How to Enroll:
If you already have a Canvas at Penn account, you can access the program here.
If you have not used Canvas at Penn before and need to create an account, please email Canvas Support at canvas@pobox.upenn.edu with your name, email address, PennKey and/or 8-digit Penn ID number. Accounts are typically made within 1 business day.
Connect With Us
To learn more about the "be aware" program, please contact:
Alaina Spiegel, PsyD
Staff Psychologist,
Mental Health Intervention &
Programming Specialist
salaina@upenn.edu
Tali Rychik, LSW, MPH
Post-MSW Fellow
rychik@upenn.edu
Additional Programs and Resources
The "be aware" program is a complement to Wellness at Penn’s "i care" training and "i share" video. “be aware” can serve as an introduction and/or refresher to the “i care” training. It can also be a standalone mental health program.
- For more advanced skill-building, sign up for "i care" training to learn skills and resources to intervene with student stress, distress, and crisis.
- Watch the "i share" video to hear Penn students discuss the power of sharing and how they got support.
- Learn more at Caring For Yourself and Others: Stress, Distress, Crisis.
Visit our Student Health and Counseling page for more information and resources. If you have an urgent concern about yourself or someone else, visit our Get Help Now page.