OSU Department of Wellness hosts first mental health awareness walk
Friday, March 28, 2025
Media Contact: Jordan Bishop | Editor, Department of Brand Management | 405-744-7193 | jordan.bishop@okstate.edu
Oklahoma State University’s Department of Wellness took a step toward mental health awareness on Wednesday, hosting a new campuswide walking event to reduce stress and break stigmas surrounding mental health.
The walk at Theta Pond invited faculty, staff and students to a casual, mindful stroll that Taylor Bailey, employee wellness coordinator, hoped would spark conversations about mental well-being.
“Mental health has quickly risen to the forefront of the conversation in recent years,” Bailey said. “That's been for students, faculty and staff. We've done a few studies, and we do know that depression and anxiety are really common challenges on campus, and walking, in general, is one of the ways that has been proven to help reduce symptoms of both.
“We thought of the idea of bringing those both together, and walking is among the more widely accessible options for both students and employees to take part in, especially during heavy class seasons or heavier work days. This opportunity tries to bring both populations together and specifically aims to do so in a way that allows them some much-needed fresh air, sunshine and stress relief.”
Participants received handouts and QR codes linking to campus and community mental health resources, including the 988 crisis line and Student Assistance by Mercy, or SAM, a support service for students who experience stress or anxiety.
Justin Cypert-Worley, communications coordinator at the Institute for Teaching and Learning Excellence, emphasized the importance of workplace wellness.
“It’s beneficial for employees to take breaks and do something completely different than what we do every day,” Cypert-Worley said.
The event is part of a broader campus initiative to raise awareness, reduce mental health stigma and connect individuals with support resources. The Department of Wellness offers training programs, including Mental Health First Aid, Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) training and more. The Mental Health First Aid program aims to equip people with the skills to recognize the signs and symptoms of a mental health challenge or even a crisis situation, while QPR focuses on key suicide prevention tactics.
“Mental health is essential to being a healthy person, much less a healthy employee,” said Rene Compte, senior administrative support specialist at ITLE.
For more information about mental health resources, visit okla.st/osucares.
Story By: Mak Vandruff | makenzie.vandruff@okstate.edu