SMC Wellness Fair Kicks Off Live Well, Learn Well Initiative
An extra-healthy year for Gaels is on the horizon, thanks to a campus-wide holistic wellness initiative, Live Well, Learn Well. The newly minted Wellness area in Student Life launches with a lively Wellness Fair during Community Time, Wednesday, Sept. 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Dante Quad. Approximately 19 campus departments and student groups will offer enticements like a barbecue, Peet’s coffee, massage chairs, pet therapy, corn hole and giant Jenga, participation prizes, and flu shots to promote the initiative.
“All of us, in some way, contribute to and play a role in supporting student health and well-being on campus; it’s exciting that we’ve got so many different departments participating to foster a comprehensive culture of wellness in our community,” said Executive Director of Wellness Dai To, who also heads Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at Saint Mary’s. “Participating departments such as Mission and Ministry, Student Disability Services, Financial Aid, and the High Potential Program enhance and support multiple dimensions of wellness, such as financial, spiritual, social, and intellectual.”
CAPS, the Health and Wellness Center, and the Sexual Assault and Violence Prevention Office form the core of Wellness in the division of Student Life. Representatives from those programs, as well as from the Center for Women and Gender Equity, Student Disability Services, Campus Recreation, and Community Life, serve on the Wellness Committee and are sponsors of the Sept. 19 fair.
Live Well, Learn Well—a creative restructuring of existing programs, in keeping with the national collegiate trend toward a holistic approach to wellness—provides comprehensive, holistic care to the SMC campus. It strives to promote students’ healthy lifestyles and academic success by providing quality medical, psychological, wellness, and preventive educational programs.
In turn, students are learning important skills that promote lifelong wellness. “College is an opportune time to learn to advocate for your own health,” said Rachel Snowden ’06, medical director of the Health and Wellness Center, the on-campus urgent care clinic. “The center is a safe, confidential space for you to come in and talk about your medical concerns, including about sexual health.”
In addition, Counseling and Psychological Services offers psychotherapy, consultation, and resources to help students experiencing a wide range of issues, including stress, anxiety, depression, homesickness, and difficulty adjusting to college. The Sexual Assault and Violence Prevention program educates students about establishing healthy relationships and maintaining personal safety, and also offers advocacy and confidential information, response, and resources to survivors of sexual assault.