First Year @ USI
Health &
Wellness
|
|
The Dimensions of Wellness
|
|
W
ellness extends beyond just the physical, and is a multi-dimensional state of being. It's all about balance!
Being well can help you do well inside and outside of the classroom. Self-care - including quality sleep, good nutrition, and knowing how to cope with stress - all contribute to your ability to thrive as a USI student. Wellness is an active, continuous process of self-enhancement. Every day you make choices that influence your own well-being.
Explore each segment of the Wellness Wheel to learn about the dimension and to find resources just for you at USI at
https://www.usi.edu/rfw/wellness/wellness/.
|
|
Emotional Wellness and Mental Health
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
- Emotional Wellness: an awareness and acceptance of a wide range of feelings in yourself and others. An emotionally well person understands their limitations.
- Intellectual Wellness: involves ongoing learning and the ability to open our minds to new ideas and experiences. Sharing ideas with people from different backgrounds helps us advance in all aspects of life.
- Social/Cultural Wellness: the ability to connect with other people in our world. This dimension is expressed through developing and maintaining friendships, family relationships, and more.
|
|
- Getting professional help if you need it (there's nothing wrong with seeing a therapist/counselor)
- Connecting with others
- Staying positive
- Be willing to leave your comfort zone
- Getting physically active
|
|
- Eating a healthy diet
- Enjoying a hobby
- Getting enough sleep
- Journaling
- Spending quality time with loved ones/friends
- Helping others
- Developing coping skills
|
|
Mental Health Stigma
Mental health stigma is prejudicial attitudes and discriminating behavior directed towards individuals with mental health issues as a result of the psychiatric label they have been given.
How can we eliminate stigma?
By
Imparting knowledge about mental health issues and challenging existing negative stereotypes.
Ways we can reduce mental health stigma:
- Educate yourself to know the facts
- Choose your words carefully (e.g. avoid using terms like 'OCD', 'crazy', and 'depression' as adjectives)
- Talk openly about mental health
- Encourage equality between physical and mental illness
- Show compassion for those with mental illness -- Choose empowerment over shame
|
|
Physical Wellness
in
cludes appropriate exercise and proper nutrition in addition to making responsible decisions about sex, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use.
The
Student Wellness Office
is located in room 219 in the Recreation, Fitness, and Wellness Center. Student Wellness develops, implements, and coordinates health and wellness programs for the University community. Throughout the year, they partner with campus departments/organizations and local community agencies to provide wellness outreach events
|
|
Spiritual Wellness and Religious Life
|
|
Spiritual Wellness
is t
he process of looking within yourself and exploring your values and belief to establish peace and harmony in our lives. It is not necessary to find this through organized
religion.
Religious Life
provides religious guidance and worship opportunities for students, faculty, and staff. Religious Life office is located on the corner of O'Daniel and Clark Lanes. Their goal is to get the word out on ways to stay active in your faith life while at USI.
Services offered:
- Retreats, Fellowship, Bible Studies, Worship Mass, Service Opportunities, and Educational Programming
|
|
Other Dimensions of the Wellness Wheel
|
|
- Financial wellness is an intricate balance of the mental, spiritual, and physical aspects of money.
- Environmental wellness is the process of recognizing your responsibility to your environment, which ranges from your immediate surroundings to the world around you.
- Occupational wellness is the ability to get personal fulfillment from our jobs while maintaining balance in our lives.
|
|
- The Counseling Center offers individual and group therapy to assist students. Need to relieve stress, deal with your emotions, set appropriate goals, or make healthy decisions? Make an appointment today - 812-464-1867 | Website
- The Recreation, Fitness, and Wellness Center offers many opportunities to exercise! Take a class, or work out on your own! - 812-461-5268 | Website
- The University Health Center provides medical services and health-related information to students, faculty, and staff. They are located in the lower level of the Health Professions Center. - 812-465-1250 | Website
- Religious Life provides religious guidance and worship opportunities for students, faculty, and staff. Religious Life office is located on the corner of O'Daniel and Clark Lanes. There are many faith-based student organizations at USI. - 812-464-1871 | Website
|
|
Involvement Opportunities
|
|
On Saturday, September 28 from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., participants will volunteer at the local American Red Cross for an on-site workday. This is a free program that includes breakfast, lunch, and transportation.
Participant applications are due Friday, September 13
. For more information and to apply for the program, visit
USI.edu/first40
|
|
Check out the
events and activities taking place on campus and in the Evansville community available to new students during their first 40 days at the University.
|
|
Reminders and Upcoming Events
Upcoming Home Sporting Events
Friday, September 13th
- Men's and Women's Cross Country at Stegemoller Classic at 5:50pm; Evansville, IN, Angel Mounds
Sunday, September 15th
- Women's Soccer vs. McKendree University at 12 pm; Evansville, IN Strassweg Field
- Men's Soccer vs. McKendree University at 2:30pm; Evansville, IN, Strassweg Field
|
|
Student Development Programs| 812-465-7167 | getinvolved@usi.edu
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
