Campus Health promotes growth mindset

Ingrid DeVries, director of Campus Health, establishes a new theme for Campus Health every year. This year, the theme for Campus Health is “growth mindset.” DeVries said the inspiration for the theme came from her sessions with students. She felt that she was hearing a lot of all-or-nothing, black-and-white thinking that was limiting students’ abilities to grow through and beyond their circumstances. DeVries decided that the narrative of stress and despair needed adjusting. She believes that the growth mindset can enable students to step back and notice the process they are in academically, socially, spiritually, etc., viewing their current trials not as a destination, but as a part of the process of growth. You can learn more about this growth mindset during the third week of October as Campus Health puts on Mental Health week, a week of celebration and education as they unpack the stigma and continue the conversation on mental health.

Campus Health hired two new counselors and started groups for students to attend and develop the “growth mindset:”

Reggie Bollinger has been contracted as a counselor specifically for working with men. He has started his new position with an open group discussion in Culver for men, titled “Reach Deep: Conversations that Matter.” This open group is held on the second floor of Culver on Thursdays from 8 – 9 p.m. Bollinger recently had great turnout for his first group session.

Jennifer Rokeby-Mayeux, part-time counselor at Campus Health, also hosts a group on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Life conference room. This group is designed to help students explore different elements of building relationships in their lives. DeVries mentioned that the time and location of this group will likely change to accommodate student schedules.

The Campus Nurse, Sue Cole, has also changed her hours to better accommodate student schedules. As sports start back up for the school year, physicals are in high demand. Cole will now be in office on Fridays from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. to address the needs of students whose schedules are too busy to schedule appointments for the rest of the week. During evenings and weekends, Campus Health provides the use of Virtual Care for physical and mental health needs. Campus Health is clearly demonstrating their commitment to the growth mindset in the change and growth in the office located in Rees Hall by the police station.

By Salissa Tonkin