October is National Emotional Wellness Month! Emotional wellness is all about being aware of, accepting and processing our feelings and the feelings of others in a healthy, positive way, as well as coping with everyday stress. This month helps to advocate and create awareness for emotional well-being and mental health and serves as an opportunity to take charge of your own emotional wellness. There are many resources, opportunities and experiences provided by the University to help students take care of their emotional wellness throughout Emotional Wellness Month and beyond! Here are five resources that can help you stay emotionally well.
The Barnes Center at The Arch
The Barnes Center has amazing resources for students seeking outlets for relaxation, conversation and alleviating stress. The Barnes Center offers traditional health resources such as the counseling center, as well as other less conventional resources. You can help your emotional wellness by attending a Pet Therapy session, which are held multiple times a week in the Walters Pet Therapy Room. You can also pay a visit to the Crowley Family MindSpa, where students can make appointments to use massage chairs, rooms with light and sound therapy, coloring pages and sensory tools. You can also register for SoulTalk, a monthly gathering for students to have engaging and respectful conversations about various wellness topics (October’s topic is Astrology and Purpose!). These are all great options for finding outlets to cope with stress, mental health and finding a space to be with others! Follow the @BeWellSU Instagram page to see weekly updates of when and where these events take place. You can also check the Barnes Center’s website for updates, daily scheduling, and other program and health information.
Orange After Dark
Every weekend throughout the fall and spring semesters, Orange After Dark (OAD) hosts several events to provide students with exclusive and fun opportunities to unwind and spend time with friends! This October, OAD will host roller raves, trivia nights, a murder mystery dinner, a stressbuster event, bowling and glow skating opportunities, a grocery bingo night where you can win a full tote bag’s worth of your favorite snacks and foods, and even a Halloween dance! These all provide great ways to connect with others, join in on some fun, stress-free activities and reward yourself after a long week of classes. Learn more about this month’s events on the Student Activities website or on the University Events Calendar.
Outdoor Activities
There are also opportunities for physical activities to help with emotional wellness! Outdoor activities can be helpful when dealing with your emotional wellness, allowing you to release pent-up emotion, move your body and open your mind. Interested in participating in zip lining, hiking trips or horseback riding? Sign up for an Adventure Trip through the Wellness Portal using your NetID login! These trips can help you feel more grounded and connected to nature, and serve as an opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities before the infamous Syracuse winter arrives.
Headspace
Looking to practice mindfulness? Want access to guided meditations, exercises to get better sleep and methods to practice relieving anxiety and other emotions? Sign up for Headspace, a guided meditation app that can be used as frequently as you’d like! This year, Syracuse University students get to access a Headspace premium membership for FREE! This means you can access all the activities and lessons Headspace offers, such as meditation, yoga, fitness, mindfulness and sleep management, simply by signing up through the instructions provided on the Barnes Center’s website.
Wellness Leadership Institute
Want new, inclusive and holistic information about wellness? Sign up for a Wellness Leadership Institute (WLI) workshop! There are many Dimensions of Wellness that all play equal roles in helping us balance life. These Dimensions include Emotional, Physical, Financial, Intellectual, Social, Environmental, Career and Spiritual Wellness, as well as Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility. The WLI offers workshops to educate students on all the different aspects of wellness by providing resources, intervention solutions and success strategies, all while learning about inclusive topics, language and how they intersect. The program provides great options for checking in with one’s mental wellness and learning more about how to approach wellness as a balance! You can sign up for upcoming Wellness Leadership Institute workshops through the Wellness Portal!
Written By Jada Rudolph ’23, College of Visual and Performing Arts, Be Wise Peer Educator