Photo courtesy of Carley McGovern. Pictured above, the pop-up counseling center at the Mental Health Fair.
According to the American Institute of Stress, 45% of college students say they experience “more than average stress levels.” St. Ambrose University’s Counseling Center tries to give students strategies to cope with this stress, including the annual Mental Health Fair.
On Wednesday, September 18th, the Counseling Center hosted the fourth annual Mental Health Fair. This event provided students, faculty, and staff an opportunity to destress and learn about the mental health resources available to them.
“The counseling center is available year-round, on campus, but the mental health fair is kind of a big deal in the fall,” SAU Director of Counseling Sarah Oliver explains. “We’re in that beginning part of the semester where students start to struggle a little bit, and we want them to know that there’s a lot of support available to them both on campus and off.”
As Oliver explained, the Mental Health Fair partnered with both campus clubs and organizations outside of SAU. One campus group, the Campus Activities Board (CAB) had a giant coloring sheet and crayons available for students to color away their stress.
Photo courtesy of Carley McGovern. Students color CAB’s giant coloring sheet at the Mental Health Fair.
Other campus clubs demonstrated how they used their strengths to cope with stress and difficulties. The Green Life Club gave out free lavender sprigs and Exercise Sciences had students and staff jot down what movement they use to destress.
Photo courtesy of Carley McGovern. Pictured above, SAU students and staff write down how they exercise to deal with stress.
Residence Life also collaborated with the Counseling Center to get the word out about the resources available to students. Residential Advisor (RA) Trinity Smith explains, “It’s their home away from home, and it’s really awesome to see all of the resources we have access to.”
The Counseling Center hosted a variety of experiences, including a cake walk, opportunities to talk with a counselor, and a scavenger hunt to win a prize!
Photo courtesy of Carley McGovern. Pictured above, students talk to a therapist at the pop-up counseling center.
The Quad Cities Canine Assistance Network (QCCAN) brought therapy dogs for students to pet. QCCAN often brings therapy dogs to the library during finals weeks.
An important off-campus resource for individuals living in the Quad Cities is Clock Incorporated, which focuses on providing mental health care to the LGBTQ+ community.
“We’re here at St. Ambrose today to make sure everyone knows that we are a resource in the Quad Cities serving both sides of the river,” Adam Peters says. “We have a whole host of things that we offer, we’ve got free and reduced professional counseling, a gender-affirming clothing closet, a little library, eight different support groups all year round, and we do events all year round as well. We’re making sure the fighting bees know that we’re here and we can help.”
Photo courtesy of Carley McGovern. Pictured above, Adam Peters and his table for Clock Incorporated.
The Mental Health Fair is an annual tradition that will hopefully continue for a long time. SAU students can learn about coping skills, talk to certified therapists, and find external resources any time of year.
“We don’t really care where students get the help, we just want them to know what’s there and to use it if they need to,” Oliver stated.
Students can contact the Counseling Center at CounselingCenter@sau.edu.
