January 13 | Issue #5 | New Student Edition
|
|
W
ellness extends beyond just the physical, and is a multi-dimensional state of being. It's all about balance!
Being well can help you do well inside and outside of the classroom. Self-care - including quality sleep, good nutrition, and knowing how to cope with stress - all contribute to your ability to thrive as a USI student. Wellness is an active, continuous process of self-enhancement. Every day you make choices that influence your own well-being. In this issue, explore how to stay well during your time at USI.
|
|
The Dimensions of Wellness
|
|
|
Emotional Wellness and Mental Health
|
|
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
- Emotional Wellness: an awareness of acceptance of a wide range of feelings in yourself and others. An emotionally well person understands their limitations.
- Intellectual Wellness: involves ongoing learning and the ability to open our minds to new ideas and experiences. Sharing ideas with people from different backgrounds helps us advance in all aspects of life.
- Spiritual Wellness is the process of looking within yourself and exploring your values and belief to establish peace and harmony in our lives. It is not necessary to find this through organized religion.
- Occupational Wellness is the ability to get personal fulfillment from our jobs while maintaining balance in our lives.
- Environmental Wellness is the process of recognizing your responsibility for your environment, which ranges from your immediate surroundings to the world around you.
- Social/Cultural Wellness: the ability to connect with other people in our world. This dimension is expressed through developing and maintaining friendships, family relationships and more.
- Physical Wellness includes appropriate exercise and proper nutrition in addition to making responsible decisions about sex, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use.
- Financial Wellness is an intricate balance of the mental, spiritual and physical aspects of money.
|
|
- Getting professional help if you need it (there's nothing wrong with seeing a therapist/counselor)
- Connecting with others
- Staying positive
- Be willing to leave your comfort zone
- Getting physically active
|
|
- Eating a health diet
- Enjoying a hobby
- Getting enough sleep
- Journaling
- Spending quality time with loved ones/friends
- Helping others
- Developing coping skills
|
|
|
Mental health stigma is prejudicial attitudes and discriminating behavior directed towards individuals with mental health issues as a result of the psychiatric label they have been given.
How can we eliminate stigma?
By
Imparting knowledge about mental health issues and challenging existing negative stereotypes.
Ways we can reduce mental health stigma:
- Educate yourself to know the facts
- Choose your words carefully (e.g. avoid using terms like 'OCD', 'crazy', and 'depression' as adjectives)
- Talk openly about mental health
- Encourage equality between physical and mental illness
- Show compassion for those with mental illness -- Choose empowerment over shame
|
|
The Dean of Student Office (DOSO) staff is here to help
students succeed
at the University by connecting them to resources, assisting as they navigate administrative processes with other University offices, and serve as
advocates
when students face academic and personal challenges. They provide
support
during times of challenge, crisis, and emergencies, as well as opportunities for students to engage in good decision making.
|
|
- The Counseling Center offers individual and group therapy to assist students. Need to relieve stress, deal with your emotions, set appropriate goals, or make healthy decisions? Make an appointment today - 812-464-1867 | Website
- The Dean of Students makes sure students have the proactive assistance and support they need is located on the main level of University Center East, Room 1229 in Fireside Lounge, and can be reached at 812-464-1862 | Website
- The Recreation, Fitness, and Wellness Center offers many opportunities to exercise! Take a class or work out on your own! - 812-461-5268 | Website
- Religious Life provides religious guidance and worship opportunities for students, faculty, and staff and is located on the corner of O'Daniel and Clark Lanes. There are many faith-based student organizations at USI. - 812-464-1871 | Website
- The University Health Center provides medical services and health-related information to students, faculty, and staff. They are located in the lower level of the Health Professions Center. - 812-465-1250 | Website
|
|
Reminders and Upcoming Events
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
