The LSU Student Health Center hosts events year round meant to reduce students’ stress and bring awareness to wellness resources on campus.
These events serve to give the student body a break from classes, as well as to promote the various services the SHC offers.
The SHC is on the far north side of campus so hosting events is a way the center brings info to students who might not be nearby.
“We find that it’s really important to meet students where they are,” said Rachel Hoover, assistant director of health promotion.
Events are meant to mix education with enjoyment. Whether the topic is sexual health, stress relief or general well-being, the events serve to leave students with both an enjoyable experience and practical information.
“We try to pair education with fun and to do events that students will enjoy and want to engage with, but at the same time, take away some skill or knowledge, something that they can implement in their own life,” Hoover said.
Planning these events begins months in advance. Signature events, bigger events that often attract large numbers of students, are plotted out during the summer. The Health Center uses student feedback to find out what events are the most favored by the student body.
After that, the process involves finding campus partners and a place to hold the event. Promotion of the event comes next through email, social media, TVs in the Student Union and flyers across campus.
The preparation pays off, with signature events tending to have a turnout of 300 to 500 students, according to Hoover.
These events tend to be in the LSU Library or on Tower Drive. Much of the attendance comes from foot traffic of students stopping by to see what people are gathered for.
These events serve to give students a better understanding of self care, nutrition and mental health. They also help students to get more familiar with the SHC.
“I think it creates an opportunity for students to interact with other students,” Hoover said. “It creates the opportunity for them to interact with Health Center staff and to feel more comfortable with coming to the Health Center.”
A sense of familiarity is important on such a large campus, where many students may be unaware of all the resources available to them. Hoover described student awareness as a “mixed bag,” with some students coming in for basic health concerns but many having never visited.
One of the most underutilized resources is wellness coaching, where students can receive help with their sleep, nutrition and time management among other things.
Hoover said a big factor in students’ hesitation comes from worries about cost. But, mental health, wellness and student support services are all covered by tuition making them free for students.
“They can also get free counseling or therapy and free wellness coaching,” Hoover said.
Success does not come without challenges, with space for events being one of the largest issues. The Health Center does not have its own space for events, meaning that events must be held in other spots around campus.
The events are subject to the weather as well as scheduling around other events, and so reaching students remains an active effort.
Even so, partnerships across campus help expand what the Health Center can offer. Collaborations with groups such as the LSU Library, Residential Life and UREC allow for larger, more accessible events.
The Student Health center is hosting their Dimensions of Wellness Fair on Friday, which will feature more than 20 campus partners representing different aspects of student well-being.
