Health & Wellness Monthly Newsletter
Graduate Student Edition
November 2021 | Office of Health and Wellness Promotion
Events
  • Wellness 4 Students of Color

Opportunities
  • Mindful Monday Email
  • Poll: Mindfulness App
  • PARC Community Engagement Group
Featured Topics
  • Seasonal Affective Disorder
  • Having a COVID-19-Safe Thanksgiving
  • Holiday Stress
  • HAWP Team Member Spotlight
Events
Wellness 4 Students of Color
Join us for a night of community and care! Through this night of open discussion, undergraduate and graduate students of color, faculty, and staff will have the opportunity to meet and familiarize themselves with wellness resources on campus. Food and raffle prizes will be offered!

Panelists include:
  • Monique Gnanaratnam
  • Tara Whitehurst
  • Matt Carriker
  • Sucheta Thekkedam
  • Joanna DaCunha
  • and more!

Wednesday, November 10
6:30-8pm
Intercultural Center

Opportunities
Mindful Monday Email
The Office of Health and Wellness Promotion is starting the Mindful Monday Email! Every Monday, we will email a short mindfulness exercise to start off the new week. Join us as we explore different mindfulness exercises and set aside time each week to center ourselves in the present.

Poll: Mindfulness App
HAWP is gathering information about student interest in mindfulness apps. Please help by completing this poll, and contact hawp@brandeis.edu with any additional thoughts.
Question 1
How often would you use a mindfulness app if Brandeis provided it to you for free?
Often
Sometimes
Rarely
Never
Calm or Headspace?
Question 2
Which mindfulness app would you prefer to use if you had the option?
Headspace
Calm
PARC Community Engagement Group
PARC Community Engagement Group (PCEG) is a group for Brandeis students who have been impacted by violence, including being affected by violence directly, through the experiences of those close to us, in our broader communities, and/or in the world at large. The purpose of this group is to empower and support individuals impacted by violence, including, but not limited to, sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating/domestic violence, and/or stalking, through community building, co-learning, and the design and implementation of a community project.

Recruitment for the group is open now through the end of the fall semester, and we will begin meeting in the spring semester on a weekly basis.

Featured Topics
Seasonal Affective Disorder
In the late fall and winter months, many individuals experience symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is believed to be caused by reduced levels of sunlight. Symptoms can include:

  • Feeling depressed for most of the day and almost every day
  • Feeling sluggish, agitated, hopeless, worthless, or guilty
  • Loss of interest in activities
  • Low energy
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Changes in appetite
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Frequent thoughts of death or suicide

SAD impacts millions of people every year, so you are not alone! If you are experiencing symptoms of SAD, reach out to the BCC or another mental health professional.

Learn more about SAD from the Mayo Clinic and the National Institute of Mental Health.
Having a COVID-19-Safe Thanksgiving
The CDC has recently updated their guidelines and recommendations for celebrating holidays in the new normal. We recommend these strategies for a safer holiday celebration:

  • Celebrate outdoors, when possible
  • If indoors, wear a mask when with unvaccinated individuals and in public indoor settings 
  • Avoid crowded and poorly ventilated areas
  • Stay home and don’t host people when sick or with symptoms
  • Get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms or close contact
  • Wash your hands frequently when preparing food and eating meals
  • Consider additional precautions (wear a mask indoors when with members of different households, or people taking medications that weaken immune function, take COVID tests prior to and after celebrating, etc.)

Holiday Stress
The holidays can be a time to reconnect with family and friends and engage in special traditions, but for many, holidays can also be a time of stress. Dealing with disagreements, unsolicited advice, and scrutiny during the holidays can be challenging. Some may experience pressure to spend money, difficult political conversations, or competing demands on your time. With some planning and support, you can prioritize your well-being.

HAWP Team Member Spotlight
Name: Mariuxi Diaz-Rodriguez, '22

Hometown: New York, NY

Hobbies: Traveling in the city, trying new foods

Current Favorite Song: good 4 u - Olivia Rodrigo

Fun Fact: I studied American Sign Language for three years in high school!

Favorite Thing About Working at HAWP: I love being able to collaborate with the other HAWP team members and even other offices on campus. It is exciting to see the inner workings and behind-the-scenes of wellness promotion at Brandeis. I enjoy coming up with exciting ways to give out information to promote wellness at Brandeis.
Health and Wellness Resources
Brandeis Health Center

All appointments must be scheduled by calling
781-736-3677.

After hours consultation:
781-239-1948


Monday - Friday: 
9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Closed Tuesdays from 9-10 am
Brandeis Counseling Center

All appointments must be conducted virtually.

Please call during regular business hours for routine matters, and after 5 p.m. for urgent concerns.

To reach the BCC call
781-736-3730.