Well-Being and Mental Health Resources
The College of Natural Resources is committed to supporting your mental health and overall wellness. Our tight-knit community and the broader NC State network offer resources to help you navigate stress, challenges and everything in between. Reach out when you need support. Your well-being matters.

“The College of Natural Resources community is here to support you. We are a tight-knit college where we value a strong sense of community. You are not alone, no matter what you are facing. Do not hesitate to reach out and seek support when you need help. We want to do everything we possibly can to support your mental health and overall wellness.” – Dean Myron Floyd
Support is Available
Embarking on your academic journey is exciting and empowering, but it can also be stressful and overwhelming. Prioritizing your mental health and overall wellness is essential. The College of Natural Resources and the NC State community offer a variety of resources to help you navigate challenges. We encourage you to use these supports and take advantage of the spaces available to you. You are a valued member of our college family.
Embedded Counselor
An embedded counselor, William Hitt, offers undergraduate and graduate students in the College of Natural Resources and the College of Education with free counseling services on campus and virtually. Supported by the Provost’s Office, this shared position gives students convenient and confidential access to care.
Embedded Counselor Availability
- Monday–Tuesday: Biltmore Hall 2022D, down the hall from the College of Natural Resources Academic Affairs suite
- Wednesday–Thursday: Ricks Hall 9
- Friday: Virtual only
Individual Counseling
For short-term individual counseling with the embedded counselor, email or call to schedule an appointment.
Other Services
For groups, workshops, psychiatry, external referrals, or individual counseling with a counselor of a different identity or specialty, visit the Counseling Center’s Get Started page. With many counselors on campus and a wide referral network, you can find someone who meets your needs.
Check-In Appointments
The embedded counselor also offers 20-minute “check-in” appointments to:
- Meet the counselor and learn how he can help
- Address smaller issues, such as test anxiety or communicating with a professor
- Develop a wellness plan
- Explore counseling options or complete paperwork together
Counseling Services FAQ
Who is eligible to meet with our embedded counselor?
All undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the College of Natural Resources or College of Education are eligible. Faculty and staff in each college may also reach out to consult about a student.
What is the cost? Will it be covered by student insurance?
There is no cost for appointments with our counselor. Insurance will not be billed.
When and how can I sign up for counseling?
You can sign up for appointments through the Counseling Center’s “Get Started” page or by e-mailing or calling the embedded counselor at wwhitt@ncsu.edu or 919-513-3261.
Where is the embedded counselor‘s office?
On Mondays and Tuesdays, the embedded counselor is located in Biltmore Hall 2022D, down the hall from the College of Natural Resources Academic Affairs suite. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, he is in Ricks Hall 9. The counselor is available virtually on Fridays.
What can the counselor help me with?
Our counselor can provide both individual and group counseling, as well as psychoeducational workshop recommendations, and is equipped to help with crisis response. Since he is not a psychiatrist, he cannot prescribe medication. However, he can refer you to a psychiatrist or any other services you might need.
What other wellness and mental health services are available at NC State?
In addition to our embedded counselor and services offered through the college, students may utilize services and other counselors at the university’s Counseling Center as needed. All degree-seeking students at NC State can also request up to 12 free telehealth counseling sessions over the course of a year with one of MantraHealth’s licensed counselors. NC State also provides mental health resources and services for faculty and staff. In addition to resources offered through the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program, State Health Plan members have access to mental health coverage and additional resources via the Behavioral Health Resource Center. All of the university’s Wolfpack Wellness resources can be found at wellness.ncsu.edu/resources. If you are concerned about a student, you can complete an online referral.
Crisis Resources
If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, contact the NC State Counseling Center. Between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., please call 919-515-2423. For after-hours mental health emergencies, call 919-515-2423 and select option #2 to speak with an on-call counselor. In the case of a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
Lighten Your Pack

Taking Care of Yourself
What other counseling services are available on campus?
- The NC State Student Counseling Center provides short-term counseling care.
- The NC State Community Counseling, Education, and Research Center provides short-term counseling to individuals, couples and families, ages 14 and older. (Fees are required)
- NC State and AcademicLiveCare have a partnership where every degree-seeking student is eligible for up to 12 free telehealth counseling sessions over the next year.
What are some ways I can prioritize taking care of myself?
- Wellness coaching: NC State’s certified wellness coaches provide individual, group or drop-in sessions that can help you improve your well-being. Each coaching opportunity is designed to meet you where you are in your wellness journey and facilitate personal growth and development along the way.
- Resilient Pack: This site provides strategies, tips and resources on how to build resilience in the face of adversity or significant stress.
- Drop-in spaces: A drop-in space is a casual, no-commitment-required way to engage in a variety of experiences that allow you to find connection and support. Drop-in spaces are offered by Prevention Services in collaboration with campus partners. Some of the topics include stress busters and resilience.
- Finch: This self-care app helps you look after your mental well-being by providing you with your own virtual pet to care for. You can choose from a wide variety of daily self-care exercises personalized for you.
Who is my advisor in the College of Natural Resources?
Advisors
Each semester you should plan to meet with your academic advisor to make sure you are on the right track for graduation. Advisors are also here to help you find resources to support your success and well-being. Our Academic Advising page provides the most up-to-date list of advisors and contact information for the College of Natural Resources.
Advisors for Military-Connected Students
The following faculty and staff have completed the Green Zone training, which focuses on how to support our military-connected students.
Where can I go to study and/or connect with friends and classmates?
- The Natural Resource Library and Elements Cafe is located on the first floor of Jordan Hall.
- The Beanery, located on the ground floor of Biltmore Hall, has tables and chairs and an outdoor courtyard.
- If you are looking for a smaller place to study, consider the third floor of Jordan Hall or the lobby of Biltmore Hall.
How can I stay active and connect with nature?
- NC State Transportation provides insights for walking trails on and around campus. Lake Raleigh has walking trails but also spaces for service learning. Schenck Forest is one of NC State’s forests. You may even get an opportunity to visit this space in one of your Natural Resource classes!
- The Capital Area Greenway Trail has information about trails that are located around the Raleigh area.
- Many national park sites across the country offer free virtual tours and experiences that you can access anytime, anywhere. From digitally diving under the sea to watching the cherry blossom trees bloom, there are countless ways to enjoy a park experience online.
Where can I find free or affordable food options in the college and around campus?
- College of Natural Resources students have access to two grazing stations: one in Room 2022 of Biltmore Hall and the other outside Suite 3136 in Jordan Hall. Please feel free to visit the stations to grab a snack if you are struggling with access to food or just need a quick bite.
- The Feed the Pack Pantry is a food pantry located in North Hall. This resource is open to all NC State students, staff and faculty. If you are experiencing food insecurity, please visit this campus resource. If you are interested in donating or volunteering, you can do that as well.
- A Place at the Table is a local restaurant that allows you to pay what you can.
- NC State Pack Essentials assists with domestic and international students’ financial needs, including housing and food.
What is the Short-Term Loan Program?
The College of Natural Resources offers a short-term loan program thanks to a generous donation from Bob Brown, former dean and professor. Loan amounts vary depending on the request, and repayment terms can range from 30 to 90 days. Funds are disbursed by the NC State Cashiers Office within one business day of processing. For application details, email cnr_academicaffairs@ncsu.edu.
What is the Family Backpack Kit Program for student parents?
Thanks to a “Good Ideas” grant from NC State Libraries, family backpack kits are available for student parents to check out at the “Ask Us” desks in Hill and Hunt libraries and at circulation desks in the College of Design, College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Natural Resources libraries. Kits are designed for four age groups (0-2, 2-4, 4-8 and 8-12) and include three age-appropriate books, coloring supplies, Magna-Tiles (except for the 8-12 kits) and a jot tablet. Backpacks can be checked out for up to eight hours, and parent feedback helps shape the program.
How can I get connected to people who I share identities with?
- The Office of Equal Opportunity is dedicated to creating an inclusive NC State experience where every individual, regardless of their beliefs, background, orientation or ability, feels a sense of belonging within the Wolfpack community. To achieve this vision, we strive to ensure equal opportunity across campus, strengthen relationships among diverse groups, and foster a welcoming and respectful environment.
- The African American Cultural Center promotes awareness of and appreciation for African American and other African descent experiences through activities and events that enhance academic excellence and strengthen cultural competence for the campus and surrounding communities.
- The LGBTQ Pride Center serves students of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, aromantic, queer, transgender, genderqueer, gender fluid, gender non-conforming, non-binary, agender, intersex and questioning students and their allies.
- The Women’s Center aims to build and create a community of authentic and engaged allies and leaders to pursue gender equity and social justice, enhancing the campus climate through education, advocacy, support and leadership development.
- Multicultural Student Affairs researches, designs and implements unique programs that promote the pursuit of academic success, retention and graduation of students with an emphasis on African American, Native American, Hispanic/Latinx, and Asian Pacific Islander South Asian American students.