Carving out time for self-care
With Halloween just around the corner, STU Mental Health brought out the pumpkins last night on campus to celebrate.
Students spent over an hour upstairs in James Dunn Hall carving pumpkins to take home with them as part of a “self-care” series created by STU Mental Health.
Even though assignments and tests can feel endless to university students during the busy semester, a crowd of about 10 took time to practice self-care last night.
Kristyn Harvey, Peer Health Education Team co-leader, helps organize and run these events. She remembers looking for activities to do in the evening when she used to live in residence.
“I think it’s just a nice option to have during the week,” Harvey said, “for students to come and relax and do something other than schoolwork.”
That something can include yoga in the gym, a knitting cafe, or the most popular – a visit with therapy dogs. Every Monday at 7 p.m. on campus, STU students can practice self-care with STU Mental Health for free.
Kelly Humber Kelly, Mental Health Coordinator with St. Thomas University, created the series shortly after starting her position with the university three years ago.
She wanted to find a way for students to think about their mental health in an approachable and every day way. Humber Kelly then decided to focus on self-care and helping students de-stress by giving them time to do the things they love.
She said the most difficult part in creating the series was finding events to match students’ interests. Some that were hosted in the beginning are no longer offered, and new ideas are brought up each year.
Mental health resources are often passed out to students who attend, giving them information about what support is available to them.
This offers an easy bridge to Humber Kelly’s office, who noticed the series has created more mental health awareness among students.
“Often times after events or when I go to classrooms talking about the self-care series, I notice an increase in the number of people that come through my door and ask more questions about mental health,” she said.
The next time to practice self-care with STU Mental Health will include a visit with therapy dogs after the reading week on Nov. 12 at 7 p.m.
