The Dean of Students Office and the Counseling Center have joined forces to aid students affected by Haiti’s earthquake.
“We want to make students feel safe and comfortable,” said Wayne D. Griffin, associate director and clinical associate professor at the Counseling Center.
Individual counseling and a support groups for students have been set up since the earthquake.
Students can attend the individual counseling by making appointments or go to the support group on Thursdays at 5 p.m. at the Counseling Center in Peabody Hall.
“The longer people go without hearing from loved ones, the more serious it becomes,” Griffin said.
Paige Crandall, interim dean of students, said her advice to students is to try to eat well, get sleep and spend time with friends and family to get some closure and support.
She also emphasized not watching the news constantly and said the best thing students can do is get involved in relief efforts such as Gators United for Haiti.
Gators United for Haiti originally began in 2008 for the hurricanes that hit Haiti.
The initiative eventually died down after some time but now has been resurrected for the earthquake.
Gators United for Haiti has more than 60 on-campus organizations that are working toward the goal of raising $50,000.
“The students right off the back wanted to go into action,” Crandall said.Crandall and Griffin are aware that students may experience feelings of guilt and hopelessness.
“When you’re so close to the incident,” Crandall said, “it’s normal to be upset.”
Crandall believes that some students may not feel the effects now, but in the months to come they may start to notice a change in themselves. Crandall said it is important for friends to watch out for one another and be alert to any dramatic changes in routines or personality.
For information about counseling, students can call 352-392-1575 or visit counsel.ufl.edu/Haitian_earthquake.aspx.
