Finals week is rough—there’s no sugarcoating it. Deadlines pile up, sleep gets pushed to the side, and the pressure to perform can feel overwhelming. Everyone’s buried in textbooks and surviving on caffeine and the occasional panic-induced motivation spike. In all that chaos, it’s easy to forget one simple but powerful thing: your friends might be struggling, too.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and with finals in full swing, now is the perfect time to check in on each other. Supporting your friends doesn’t mean you have to be their therapist or have all the answers. Sometimes, it’s as simple as saying, “Hey, how are you really doing?”
Finals Can Feel Isolating
When the pressure’s on, a lot of us go into tunnel vision. Study caves. Library marathons. Silence in the group chats. But behind the grind, people are dealing with a lot—burnout, anxiety, self-doubt, or just plain exhaustion.
It’s important to remember that even the friend who seems like they have it all together might be silently struggling. We all handle stress differently, and some of us are just good at hiding it.
Signs a Friend Might Be Struggling
Keep an eye out for some of these quiet signals that someone might need support:
• They're suddenly not responding to messages or skipping out on study groups.
• You notice negative self-talk, or they joke about “failing everything.”
• They seem super anxious, scattered, or unusually withdrawn.
• Their energy is just… off.
These can be easy to overlook during finals week when everyone is tired—but a small check-in can make a big difference.
What To Say
Worried about saying the wrong thing? You don’t need to give a TED Talk on mental health—just be genuine. Here are a few ways to start the convo:
• “Hey, just checking in—how’s finals week treating you?”
• “You’ve seemed kind of off lately. Want to take a break together?”
• “Need to vent, or want a distraction? I’ve got memes and snacks.”
Sometimes just knowing someone sees them and cares is enough to lighten the load.
Ways to Show Support
You don’t need a big plan to help a friend feel supported. Try one of these:
• Invite them to a short walk or coffee break.
• Study together, even silently. It makes people feel less alone.
• Send a funny TikTok or a playlist to help them de-stress.
Tiny actions can have a big impact.
Be There
You don’t have to “fix” anything. You don’t have to say the perfect thing. Just being there, showing up, and saying “I care” can be enough to help someone get through. So maybe today’s the day to text a friend. Ask them how they’re holding up. Invite them to study, chill, vent, or just exist together. Because we all do better when we look out for each other.
Mental Health Doesn’t End With Finals
After the last exam is turned in, the stress doesn’t magically disappear. Some people crash emotionally after the adrenaline of finals is over. Keep the check-ins going. Keep reaching out. If someone you care about is really struggling, encourage them to connect their supports such
as friends, family, or BeWell. And if you’re feeling overwhelmed too, remember you deserve support just as much as anyone else.
Keep these resources in mind!
Carruth Counseling Center (Urgent Crisis Clinic and After Hours): 304-293-4431
Crisis Text Line: text WVU to 741741
National Suicide Line: 988