Resources

A Culture of Care and Connection

At Cal State Monterey Bay, your wellbeing is essential to your success. Whether you're looking for immediate support, exploring self-care strategies, or helping a friend in need, our network of campus and community resources is here for you.

We promote a holistic wellness model — supporting your physical, emotional, mental, social, financial, academic, and spiritual health. Explore the support systems available for students, faculty, and staff.

For Students: A Community of Support

At Cal State Monterey Bay, your wellbeing is just as important as your academic success. Our holistic approach to wellness means that whether you're feeling stressed, homesick, overwhelmed, or just need someone to talk to, you're not alone.

Start with our Holistic Wellness and Student Crisis Response guides. These tools help you understand where to go and who to contact—whether it’s a moment of crisis or you’re exploring long-term support. Accessible formats are available and translatable via Google Translate.

You can also access free, anonymous mental health coaching through the Soluna App, and get local referrals through 211 Monterey County, which offers text support in English and Spanish for mental health, substance use, youth issues, and suicide prevention.

Other helpful resources include Sam’s Guide to Family Resources, Mental Health is Health, and Active Minds. And for practical needs like improving sleep or managing homesickness, we offer tips and tools focused on student life.

If you’re part of a specific student population—such as distance learners, graduate students, student parents, veterans, first-generation students, or undocumented students—we have tailored resources to meet your needs.

For Faculty & Staff: Responding with Confidence

Faculty and staff are often the first to notice when a student is struggling. If you see something that raises concern, trust your instincts—and know you’re not alone. The Personal Growth and Counseling Center (PGCC) offers real-time consultations at 831-582-3969 to help you determine the best next steps.

You’ll find guidance in the Red Folder, the Supporting Emotionally Distressed Students guide, and the Faculty Foster a Culture of Wellness infographic. Each resource was developed to help you recognize signs of distress, intervene appropriately, and support student success without stepping outside your role.

Our wellness approach encourages integrating care into your academic environment. Faculty can use a syllabus statement that connects students to resources and normalize help-seeking. We also encourage use of the First Year Seminar Mental Health Discussion Guide, which includes ready-to-use classroom prompts.

Want more support? Use our Presentation Request Form to invite PGCC staff to present in your class or department meeting.

For Families and Supporters: Helping Students Navigate College Life

Supporting a college student through this transition can be rewarding—and challenging. Families and friends are important partners in student wellness.

Resources like Healthy Minds Minute, Homesickness and Your Student, and Your Student’s Transition to College offer practical insight into what students may experience—and how you can support them with encouragement, communication, and care.

To understand campus life better, you can also explore resources through Student Housing and Residential Life, where students find both living arrangements and a built-in support network.

Together, we create a community where students are seen, supported, and empowered to succeed.