Social media is flooded with people talking about ways to be healthy. People are very concerned with what health means and how to achieve it. However, it can be hard to make sure your health needs are met if you do not know what is available to you.
To combat this issue of students being unaware of resources around them, the Booth Wellness Center hosted a wellness and resource fair Oct. 29.
At this event, several booths advertised resources students could access during their time on campus and in St. George. This event has been hosted for almost 10 years on campus.
Jamy Dahle, director of counseling and health promotion services at Booth Wellness Center, said: “The purpose of the wellness and resource fair is to really help our campus community, students specifically, be aware of campus wellness resources that are available to them, and then also community wellness resources that are available to them because it might not be offered on our campus.”
This event has evolved from strictly mental and physical health providers to overall wellness. In previous years, there have been resources for financial and recreational wellness in the event, as well as medical resources.
“I believe that we have different parts of ourselves, and we have to really focus on each of those parts,” Kimberly Maximo, a sophomore psychology major from Tampa, Florida, said. “If we focus just on our physical being and not focus on our mental health, then it’s not going to work. So, we have to remember that we have multiple parts of ourselves and make sure that we’re taking care of each of those parts of our identity.”
This year various resources were present both on and off campus. Some resources present on and off campus were:
- Student Resource Center: There are a variety of resources offered through this center. They help students with nutritional needs, childcare, first generation students and have a free legal clinic to provide guidance for a variety of legal matters.
- Utah Tech Student Association: This organization helps students’ social wellness. They arrange campus events that encourage students to meet new people and discover new activities.
- Various booths from the College of Health Sciences: Several departments within this college had booths explaining health in a hands-on way.
- Dove Center: This center helps people who have experienced sexual assault and domestic violence. There are counseling and shelter resources available. They also work to educate the community on sexual violence.
- Sunrock Yoga: The purpose of this organization is to allow people to connect with their bodies and achieve physical and mental wellness through yoga.
- Rising Sun Therapy: This organization provides therapeutic services to teens 13-17 years old and women. There are specialists in many areas such as infertility, ADHD, grief, self-esteem and depression.
- Addict to Athlete: There are support groups for addiction, trauma, mental illness and loss provided through this program. Each session is followed by physical exercise.
- Trula Counseling: This service is meant to provide counseling to students specifically. Trula counselors help students find licensed professionals that can help with their academic needs and health.
Some booths had activities for students, such as Fusion, which brought bracelet making, and the Healthy Trailblazer Coalition brought sand zen gardens. Free hotdogs and chips were also offered.
“The benefit of all this is that it helps students that aren’t familiar with these resources in our area that they’re here and don’t have to wait until they get home next to access this resource. We have these resources available for you in our community,” Dahle said.
Activities like this help students’ social wellness as well. A sense of belonging is important to a student’s overall wellness and academic success. These activities allow students to meet new people and create connections.
“It can help you find a group. If you find your own group then you have your own place [at school],” Chris Uyleman, a freshman computer science major from Orem, said.
Wellness is the first step to a successful college life. It can be difficult to focus on school if one’s basic needs aren’t met.
Dahle said: “If we are taking care of our wellness, then it’s the residual effect. If I’m doing well nutritionally, with sleep… Then, I’m more likely to do well in school and make my school a success.”