Loyalist students share how they take care of their mental health

Molly the Therapy pig came in tutu on Thursday for students to pet and take pictures with. Photo by Olivia Waldriff, QNet News

By Olivia Waldriff

BELLEVILLE – Mental illness was in the spotlight this week as Loyalist College held different campus events to help students educate themselves and to mark Mental Illness Awareness Week.

For the second year in a row, the college organized Thrive Week, which included a wellness fair in the Shark Tank featuring a variety of different booths, covering different types of wellness including emotional, financial, intellectual and spiritual. Thrive Week also included a DIY Self-Care Kit event where students could fill up bags with items to help them de-stress like tea, bubbles, bubble wrap, notebooks, pens, Play Doh and more.

These events got students talking about what wellness meant to them.

“I think wellness is important because life is about enjoying being alive. It’s not about getting that job or impressing the girl – it’s about enjoying your experience before you die,” said Sabrina Zaczek, an animation student at Loyalist, while at the DIY Self-Care Kit event.

“Wellness is a journey and a process of self-care, self-love, healthy relationships, finding out what you love and doing more of that. Wellness is a lot of things,” said Jocelyn Pitcher, a student wellness ambassador who is in the social service worker program.

The wellness team put on different events like yoga, meditation, relaxation breaks and mood walks. Photo By Olivia Waldriff, QNet News

Pitcher was representing the wellness team at a booth at the fair on Tuesday.

“Wellness is super important and I don’t think students are aware of all the services that Loyalist has,” said Pitcher.

“Wellness and mental health just means … reaching out for support when you need it,” said Julie Millar. Photo by Olivia Waldriff, QNet News

“I think it’s really important for students to have an idea about what is in our community to help them with their wellness and different ideas and strategies to help them when they’re feeling stressed and anxious,” said Julie Millar, a counsellor representing the Student Success Hub at Loyalist.

This year for Thrive Week has been expanded, student government has added new vendors, presentations, workshops and a student showcase.

“We wanted to do a student showcase where we kind of show off the talent here at Loyalist, whether it’s through art or any other form of self-expression … just kind of bragging about the students we have here … and getting them more involved in the events,” said Alicia Douglas, student government president.

“It’s important for people to know how to take care of their mental health and how to de-stress and get away from their own mind for a little bit,” said Alicia Douglas when asked why mental health awareness is important. Photo by Olivia Waldriff, QNet News

QNet News asked students what they like to do to take care of their mental health.

“Without it a lot of people’s pain goes unanswered and it’s a way that we can all connect as a community and become better,” said Emilie Coutts on mental health awareness. Photo by Olivia Waldriff, QNet News

Emilie Coutts, a Brock-Loyalist Nursing student, said she likes to meditate, practice yoga and writes in a gratitude journal.

“I try to be thankful of everything especially when i’m going through a stressful situation … I like to think about the things that I’m grateful for and happy about and I try and write things that I’m looking forward to as well,” she said.

“I like to do face masks … when I have a super rough day I go home and put it on because I know I can’t do anything while I’m doing it, I just have to lie there and wait to take it off so it kinda lets me stop and just breathe … it’s really helpful for me,” said Zaczek.

“I pretty much just turn off the world. I listen to music, watch a movie, just forget about everything,” said Matthew Bailey, an animation student.

“I think it’s extremely important so that people can not only think better of themselves but others … and they can grow more as a person without worrying about the weight of the world crushing them,” said Mathew Bailey about the importance of mental health awareness. Photo by Olivia Waldriff, QNet News

“Video games are also a big one for me,” adds Zaczek.

“Yes, video games are the best,” Bailey said.