September 21, 2024
St. John’s University’s commitment to student wellness was on full display September 19 at the annual Student Wellness Fair on the D’Angelo Center plaza, where representatives from multiple campus departments and organizations showcased resources available to students seeking to enhance their mental and physical well-being.
Hundreds of students attended the fair, where they discovered resources for counseling, physical wellness, spiritual development, sexual-violence prevention, career guidance, and more. Campus organizations highlighted the root causes of mental health crises, providing students with the education and support resources they need.
While starting a new school year can present challenges for students, the Division of Student Success is working to provide Johnnies with a network of communities that promote mental health and holistic development.
Jonathan W. Dator, Ph.D., MSCP, CGP, Director of Counseling and Psychological Services, a branch of the Office of Student Success, said the University is dedicated to assisting students in all areas of personal wellness. Encouraging an environment of inclusivity and active listening is crucial to improving student mental health.
“We want our students to know that we have these services on campus, and it’s probably the only time in their lives that they are all available in the same place,” Dr. Dator said. “Here you can get a flu shot, go see someone for counseling, and even take a yoga class, all in one place.”
College students face several stressors, University experts said. Phillip Calles, a first-year Interdisciplinary Business student at The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, said that the efforts of the University have given him peace of mind.
“It’s only my first few weeks here, but you can definitely see how proactively the University promotes a wellness culture,” Phillip said. There are all different kinds of services, and they are easy to access if people need them.”
Among the University organizations represented was the Office of Wellness Education and Prevention Services, which cultivates safe spaces and other resources for students struggling with issues ranging from financial insecurity to drug abuse. Megan Johnson, Associate Director, Student Wellness, emphasized the importance of suicide-prevention awareness and ways students can promote a healthy lifestyle. In collaboration with the Office of Student Success, Ms. Johnson coordinates events such as this throughout the school year, including student orientation sessions, individual counseling, and social media outreach.
“The department tries to create a holistic approach to student mental health,” Ms. Johnson said. “We want students to know it is OK to ask for help. There are resources here for them to discover all areas that can impact their mental health, from physical to occupational wellness, and even spiritual wellness.”
Ms. Johnson’s office holds an annual Suicide Prevention Walk in the spring and a Wellness Week near midterm exams that are designed to teach students how to mitigate stress and better manage their time.
Students were introduced to the diversity of wellness resources through interactive presentations from other representatives of the Office of Student Success. Jason Luchs, Associate Director, Office of Disability Services, directed a presentation affirming personal resilience in which students documented challenges they have experienced and how they have overcome them.
“It can be as simple as doing poorly on a test and noting that they did better later,” Mr. Luchs said. “Or, I’ve seen some students say they have lost a close friend, and what they did was to find a new friend group or become closer to their family, or even got help.”
Danielle DiNapoli, Director of Violence Prevention, directed a presentation on the benefits of yoga and mindfulness training to a table full of interested students. “College students juggle several things, and things happen so fast,” Ms. DiNapoli said. “Yoga provides you a space where all you have to think about in that moment is what you are doing, and everything flows from that.”
Carley Jermaine, Residence Director, Office of Residence Life, led a presentation on anxiety and depression in which students created masks. “We are all human, and we all go through things in life,” Ms. Jermaine said. “We have the students create physical masks so they can swap them for the emotional masks they might be carrying.”
Juliana Bracco ’24TCB, Graduate Assistant for Professional Development with University Career Services, works primarily with first-year students to guide them in their classes and professional goals. Juliana said students feel overwhelmed by expectations to secure an internship or job, which can create anxiety or spark “imposter syndrome,” a condition in which students fail to acknowledge their achievements.
“For students, it’s a difficult transition period and many of them feel very anxious,” Juliana said. “Students suffering from imposter syndrome feel like they do not belong or deserve to be in college, which can be mentally exhausting.”
“But,” Juliana continued, “all these students have done so much to get to where they are today, and we want them to remember that.”