Students and faculty came together as a community to learn more about the resources the school has to offer for taking care of their mental health at the Liberal Arts Campus.
The purpose for the Wellness Fest was to not only help students find helpful resources for mental health but to also meet their community on campus.
“Wellness fest is for the students to come out and see all the community partners that have partnered up with the college and learn about the resources that are available to them,” said Joseph Blanco from healthy Vikings staff.
The Wellness Fest had workshops, free samples, games, yoga, a DJ and more.
There were many booths surrounding the LAC Quad A area that were related to physical health, future academic career, women surviving domestic violence and to well being.
It was a place for students to simply be aware and knowledgeable about important things that can benefit them in the long run.
One of the booths that grasped a lot of attention was called the “YWCA”, an organization to help women who have been through domestic violence or sexual assault.
“We advocate for women who are victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. We offer court accompaniment, case management, therapy, and all of our services are free for the victims,” said the YWCA representative Jasmine Coleman.
The purpose of this organization is to also give women the safe space to have a voice and to encourage them to speak up when they need the help.
Same reason for this Wellness Fest is to help students become more open and comfortable in speaking up in any case they need help mentally and emotionally.
“One big topic of discussion that you guys will be hearing more about is mental health and making sure we de-stigmatize mental health, especially coming out of COVID,” says Blanco.
More events like the Wellness Fest will be coming throughout the year. It’ll be shown in students’ viking portal under “Viking Engagement.”