小猫、乌龟：众萌宠担当大学生“心育”好伙伴

Core Viewpoint - The "Chip Pet Counseling Station" at Hubei University integrates animal and plant care into mental health education, providing students with emotional support and a unique way to manage stress and anxiety [1][2][12]. Group 1: Program Overview - The "Chip Pet Counseling Station" is the first ecological psychological counseling network directly connected to academic departments in China, promoting emotional education through daily interactions with animals and plants [2][5]. - Each college at Hubei University has its own unique "Chip Pet" that aligns with its academic focus, such as turtles in the Philosophy College and colorful pepper plants in the Artificial Intelligence College [4][11]. - The initiative has expanded from five pilot colleges to full coverage across 26 colleges, reflecting a growing recognition of the importance of mental health in the academic environment [12][14]. Group 2: Emotional and Psychological Benefits - Students participating in the program report significant emotional benefits, such as reduced anxiety and increased feelings of responsibility and accomplishment through caring for their "pets" [3][9]. - The program encourages students to engage in emotional education by learning to care for living beings, which in turn fosters self-care and personal growth [2][3]. - Regular activities, such as plant care and animal observation, serve as effective stress relief and emotional regulation tools for students facing academic pressures [8][10]. Group 3: Support Mechanisms - A structured support system is in place, including monthly reports from class psychological representatives and timely interventions from counselors, creating a three-tiered support mechanism [5][14]. - The program also includes peer counseling initiatives, where students who have benefited from the program take on roles to help others, promoting a culture of mutual support [9][10]. - The university has received recognition for its mental health initiatives, including being named a "Demonstration Center for Mental Health Education" in Hubei Province [13][14].