OSU hosts Mental Health Awareness Week
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
A movie, a stress management fair, free chair massages and a chance to meet other students in a fun environment are all part of Mental Health Awareness Week at Oklahoma State University.
“This year’s theme is ‘Mindfulness and Stress Reduction,’ which is a valuable way of thinking about wellness from a mental and emotional point of view,” said Dr. Thomas Berry, senior clinical counselor in Student Counseling Services at OSU.
Dr. Suzy Harrington, OSU Chief Wellness Officer, said OSU is focusing on mental health awareness because stress and mental health can affect overall health and well-being.
"The goal is for us to manage them so they can be a positive force in our lives, allowing us to be the best we can be, personally and professionally," Harrington said.
The movie “Good Will Hunting” will kick the week off on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Theater. Following the screening, Tony Wells, assist professor of psychology, will lead a discussion that will include a look at some of the misconceptions the movie perpetuates as well as positive efforts to reduce the stigma associated with mental health difficulties and those who seek help.
The Mental Health and Stress Management Fair is set for Thursday, Jan. 22, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom. Fair attendees will have the opportunity to fill out a stress evaluation and meet with on-site counselors.
Pete’s Pet Posse will also be in attendance to provide some extra stress relief at the fair. Free chair massages will be offered on a first come, first served basis from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., as well as two meditation classes from 11:15 - 11:45 a.m. and 1:15 - 1:45 p.m. The Reboot Center will also be open and many mental health and stress management resources will be available for students and employees.
“The center of the fair is a mental health screening,” Berry said. “Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire, watch a video, and then have the choice of doing a one-on-one debriefing or a group debriefing, which is a general presentation on stress management."
The fair will also feature a number of information tables on a variety of topics related to mental health and wellness. Student groups and graduate programs will also be represented, as well as different clinics on campus.
“The information that everyone can use is how to actively manage their stress,” Berry said. “For instance, routinely doing breathing exercises helps us get out of our ‘flight or fight’ response mode. Staying in that response mode causes a lot of strain on the body.”
Immediately after the fair, there will be a Speed Friendzy from 2 - 3 p.m. in the French Lounge. The Speed Friendzy is similar to speed dating, without the romantic intentions. “Students might be aware of it because the counseling center has been doing it as part of welcome week,” Berry said.
The Friendzy will give students a chance to meet other students in a fast, fun environment. Each student will talk to another student for three minutes at a time using structured “get to know you” questions. The event has been so popular in the past that they’ve had to turn some students away.
OSU Mental Health Awareness Week is the result of a collaborative effort among University Counseling Services, the Student Union, Department of Wellness, Student Affairs, Human Resources, University Health Services, Department of Psychology, Reboot Center, Pete’s Pet Posse, ComPsych, Chief Wellness Officer and Greek Life.
All the events during OSU’s Mental Health Awareness week are free to all students, faculty and staff. “People can come and decide how involved they want to get,” Berry said. “There will be lots of good information they can pick up and some good handouts. It’s really just a place to get a quick check up.”
For more information on Mental Health Awareness week, please contact Trevor Richardson at 405-744-5472.
Story by Susan Occhipinti