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Wellness at UF Law

At UF Law, we know that success in law school starts with taking care of yourself.

The Mental Health Office is here to support every part of your well-being — from managing stress and building healthy habits to finding balance and staying connected. Whether you need information, guidance, or simply a place to start, we’re here to help you navigate law school and thrive both personally and professionally.

If you or a friend needs help now, call 911 immediately. For those currently in distress, contact UF’s Counseling and Wellness Center at (352) 392-1575.

UF’s Counseling and Wellness Center provides counselors for crisis services on a walk-in basis between 9 am and 4 pm, Monday through Friday.

If you know of a student in crisis, please let us know.

Ritzy Ettinger

To ensure that you have access to the necessary mental health resources and support, we have dedicated a full-time counselor, Ritzy Ettinger, LMHC, who is available for appointments right here in the UF Law building (Holland Hall 357). There is no charge to see the College of Law’s dedicated counselor, and all sessions are confidential (barring when disclosure is required by law).

Appointments

Ritzy welcomes the opportunity to meet with you! To request a counseling appointment, please fill out this form.

Location

The Wellness Office is located in Holland Hall 357. Virtual appointments may also be scheduled.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is maintained barring when disclosure is required by law (e.g., danger to self, others, suspicion of abuse of children, the elderly or disabled). This information is not included in the official student records, nor is it disclosed to the administration, faculty or any licensing board without the student’s written consent.

Students needing to be seen immediately are to contact one of the following walk-in resources:

  • Emergency Room, dial 911
  • Counseling and Wellness Center on Radio Road
  • CART (Consultation and Referral Team) at the CWC located on the fourth floor of Peabody Hall
  • U Matter We Care
Request an Appointment

Law school can be a stressful time. The rigors of exams, social networking and professional obligations can combine with personal matters to weigh you down every day. In order to thrive in law school, students need to make time to care for themselves. Eating right, exercising and getting enough sleep are only a few ways to combat stress and provide a healthy atmosphere that permits students to perform to the best of their abilities.

Healthy Eating

Reduce Alcohol

  • GatorWell – Alcohol – UF’s GatorWell programs empower UF students to be healthy and well through prevention, and this guide addresses alcohol issues including Party Safety and UF’s Medical Amnesty Policy
  • Florida Lawyers Assistance – FLA provides confidential support to law students for problems with stress, anxiety, depression, alcohol and substance use, and other mental health disorders.
  • Florida Recovery Center – UF center offers a variety of treatment options for drug and alcohol addiction.

Exercise

Sleep

Health Services

  • UF Student Health Care Center (SHCC)– The SHCC’s mission is to help students remain healthy.  They offer primary and specialty care as well as urgent care to UF Students.
  • UF Student Health Care Center’s Pharmacy – The UF Student Health Care Center Pharmacy is a full-service facility staffed by licensed pharmacists who fill prescriptions written by either in-house medical staff or licensed medical providers from other facilities.

Make Time for You

The University of Florida operates a Counseling and Wellness Center that provides services and information regarding mental health. Visit their website for more information.

The University of Florida’s Disability Resource Center’s website can connect you with resources if you need special accommodations or services.

UF’s U Matter, We Care program offers health & wellness programs as well as programs for students in distress.

Lawyers With Depression – Lawyers With Depression is a website that offers information on dealing with depression.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Toolkit for Law School Students and Those Who Care About Them – This toolkit from the American Bar Association provides substance abuse and mental health information and resources tailored for law students.

Sometimes law school can be overwhelming. Asking for help is beneficial. Healthy lawyers are successful lawyers. The college of law strongly encourages you to access necessary resources.

Stress, Anxiety, and Depression

Academic stress is a major problem. Sacrificing sleep and other unhealthy habits can cause stress to compound, sometimes to the breaking point. Studies have shown that almost 40 percent of law students experience symptoms of anxiety or depression by the end of their third year.

These symptoms impact our bodies, can affect our ability to control our emotions and overall make it difficult to be at your best.

UF’s GatorWell Stress Management Program offers students strategies for managing stress including individual coaching

Suicide Prevention

Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for 15 to 24 year olds in the United States and the second-leading cause of death for college-age students.
UF Counseling & Wellness Center provides suicide prevention resources in addition to counseling services.

Call 911 immediately if you or someone you know is a danger to himself or herself.

  1. Emergency, 911
  2. Counseling & Wellness Center, 352-392-1575
  3. U Matter We Care, 352-294-2273
  4. Student Health Care Center, 352-392-1161
  5. Alachua County Crisis Center, 352-264-6789
  6. Trevor Lifeline, 866-488-7386
  7. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 800-273-TALK (8255)
  8. UF Office of Victim Services 352-392-5648 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)
    • 352-392-1111 (after business hours and on weekends)

Examples of situations when you may need immediate support include:

  • You are in immediate danger of harming yourself.
  • You are in immediate danger of hurting someone else.
  • You experienced a recent sexual assault.
  • Someone close to you died within the last week.
  • You are distressed by hearing voices or seeing things others around you do not hear or see.

UF Law is a welcoming place, and personal threats are rare. But it is wise to be alert to possible dangers anywhere, especially at night. The University of Florida campus features blue – and sometimes yellow – emergency telephones that put you immediately in touch with the University of Florida Police Department.

You can also contact UPD using the GatorSafe App, which is free and available from either the Google Play Store or the iTunes App Store.  GatorSafe allows you to trigger a Mobile BlueLight to simultaneously send your location and call UFPD along with a personal safety toolbox with a flashlight, loud alarm, ability to send your location and much more.

A free nightly campus transportation service known as Student Nighttime Auxiliary Patrol (SNAP) is also regularly available during times of the year when classes are in session. SNAP operates from 6:30 pm to 3:00 am during the fall and spring semesters.  The fastest, most recommended method to use SNAP is to download the TapRide SNAP app, which is free and available from either the Google Play Store or the iTunes App Store. Once you download the app, please choose the “University of Florida SNAP” location and log in with your Gatorlink account.

UF Student Government has partnered with Uber to provide 25% off Uber rides from 9:00pm to 3:00 am.  T o redeem this discount, students just have to apply a unique promo code provided by UF’s Student Government in their Uber rider app. To access your promo code, visit UF’s Safe Rides page, then log in with your GatorLink info. Once you’re logged in, you’ll be provided with a promo code.