One way LSU is attempting to mitigate the decrease in wellness among young adults is through Tiger Wellness Week.

Tiger Wellness Week is part of LSU’s effort to promote wellness and bring awareness to student resources on campus. Throughout the week, the Wellness and Student Support Department of the Student Health Center collaborates with other campus organizations to host a series of activities, giveaways and other events to educate students about wellness resources.

“So with our Dimensions of Wellness Fair that we did Monday, that highlighted all of these campus resources that maybe students didn’t know about,” Rachel Hoover, assistant director of health promotion, said. “And that let them know, ‘wow, this is all that LSU has to offer me, and this is how I access it.’”

The dimensions of wellness is a model used by the Student Health Center to help students reflect on their own well-being in every aspect of life. The model features 10 dimensions of wellness, including physical, cultural, social, financial, environmental, intellectual, emotional, sexual, occupational and spiritual.

“Wellness is more than just, ‘I don’t feel sick,’ or, ‘I don’t need to go to the doctor,’” Hoover said. “It’s more than just your physical health. It’s very holistic. So having a week of events that highlights these different dimensions is a way for students to realize that all of these different pieces can impact your well-being.”

The Student Health Center partnered with the NAMI Collegiate Peer Program, which offers support for young adults suffering with mental illness, to host Planting Positivity on March 20. This event centered on the emotional and environmental dimensions of wellness.

Students who attended could take their pick of wellness brochures, snacks, refreshments, pins, stickers and even a free succulent plant and flower pot they could customize with paint pens and stickers. Ella Marrus, the graduate assistant for Wellness and Student Support and a graduate student herself, hopes that fun events like Planting Positivity will help get students engaged with their well-being.

“A lot of times students don’t know what’s available, and most resources are free,” Marrus said. “So we do this just as a way to spread awareness. Just spreading the word and also just doing something nice for the students. A good way to boost people’s moods.”

However, it can be challenging to get students to actually engage with Tiger Wellness Week activities.

“Getting students to show up for things can be a challenge,” Hoover said, “We try to make it fun, engaging and have free food and giveaways to at least get them in the door and then provide them with the education.”

Hoover hopes to reach as many students as possible through Tiger Wellness Week and equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to be proactive in their wellness journey.

“Being proactive and reaching out for help and asking about resources and getting connected on campus– I think that would be something that most students aren’t really actively thinking about,” Hoover said. “Be proactive and have those coping skills in advance instead of waiting until there’s a crisis. Wellness can be something you can be proactive about.”

For more information on wellness and student resources, make an appointment with the Student Health Center or visit its website here.