Caring for Minds: Union’s Mental Health Awareness Week

Union hosts week-long events to promote mental wellness and support students.

Mental health has become one of the most important and worrying topics in society today, especially in schools. Students face pressure from academics, social life, extracurricular activities, and the challenges of personal growth. Just like physical health, taking care of our mental well-being is essential for success and happiness. Students may have a difficult time managing stress, talking openly about their feelings, and supporting one another. That's why Union Adventist University’s Student Success Center is hosting a Mental Health Awareness Week to highlight the importance of mental wellness here in our community.

Taking place from Oct. 5-11, a series of small events will be held on campus during the week to help promote mental health and well-being, adding an emphasis on stress management. Specific events will take place on certain days, but be sure to keep an eye out for pop-up booths sponsored by Campus Health and the OTA Department throughout the week.

On Monday, October 6th and Tuesday, October 7th, there will be a booth in the Ortner Center, containing resources for uWill and TalkCampus. UWill provides therapy through video and text messaging, and is free to all actively enrolled Union students. Therapy sessions are 30 minutes in length, and all therapists are certified in the state of Nebraska. TalkCampus is also free to all Union students, and is a global peer support community available 24/7. You can connect with students around the world and get support whenever you need it. Small activities to promote positivity will also take place, and students are encouraged to show up to participate and learn more! 

On Wednesday the 8th, there will be an amazing team of therapy dogs in the entrance of the Don Love Building, right by the Lego Desk. These cute, cuddly canines are named Denali, Catch, Cali, and Hope and they will only be there from 1 to 3 p.m., so make sure to come on down and see them while you can! 

On Thursday the 9th, OTA students will be leading out in presentations for a uGather event focused on campus mental health and wellness. If you don't want to miss that, then come to Woods Auditorium at 10:30 a.m.

Information regarding events happening on Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th are not finalized yet, but will be soon so keep an ear to the ground if you're interested. If you don't know already, you can access all future events for Union on the uGroups app under the Events tab. So if you'd like to stay updated on Mental Health Awareness Week, that's where to go to find more information.

Union’s Mental Health Awareness Week is a chance for every student to learn, connect, and take steps toward healthier living. Don’t let the week pass by without getting involved, so be sure to check out the events, use the resources, and most importantly, take time for yourself and those around you.

By: Hudson Beldin