Counseling and consultation services (CCS) hosted a mental health fair Titan’s Revive and Mentally Thrive in the Center for Natural Sciences, attracting approximately 250-300 students. Booths provided an array of resources, including stress coping mechanisms, campus surveys, counseling information, and fun activities. CCS Director Jojo Mitchell spoke about the fair on February 21.
“We wanted to provide an engaging environment and the opportunity to assess students’ own mental health,” Mitchell said, “Various departments and student groups on campus care about students’ mental wellbeing.”
Students were able to participate in a variety of activities as they navigated from booth to booth. The Titan Athletics table asked students to roll a dice and perform an exercise based on their roll. After the exercise was completed, students learned about the benefits of exercise and how physical activity can be a stress reliever. Also focused on stress relief, a CCS table instructed students to write their stress on a piece of paper and throw the paper away. This way, students were “throwing away” stress.
“We often hear from students how their mental health negatively impacts their academics, relationships with others, self-esteem, etc. (CCS) services can be a lifeline for students to get help and support,” Mitchell said.
Not only were students supported by CCS at the mental health fair, they were also advocated for by student organizations. Awareness, Wellness, Education (AWE) had a craft that students could complete: a don’t worry monster. Students were able to decorate a cardboard “monster” with googly eyes and markers to destress. Another student-led organization, Student Senate, provided a survey on how students’ mental health could be better supported on campus.
“I pitched my desire and hope for an event that brought various departments across campus in one place to demonstrate that IWU cares for students’ mental health needs,” Mitchell said, “I wanted this event to specifically focus on mental health in comparison to focusing on the entire wellness wheel.”
A free massage booth helped destress students while another CCS table presented mood stickers and stress balls. Students expressed their appreciation of the event to Mitchell in their attendance and comments about the event.
“We wanted to provide students with an engaging environment, an opportunity to assess their own mental health, and fun ways to help cope with stress,” Mitchell said, “We wanted to show students that various departments and student groups on campus care about students’ mental wellbeing.”