By: Julia Watson
Bellarmine's fall 2022 semester began Aug. 25, and so did the return of the Relaxation Station. Now located in the Quad, the Relaxation Station and Campus Wellness workers are helping students de-stress with free snacks and new activities.
Mason McGrew, Campus Wellness coordinator, and Emily Warner, associate director of Campus Wellness, started the Relaxation Station in the 2022 spring semester after sending out a survey asking students about their mental health.
McGrew said he and Warner noticed that students weren't feeling as well as they should.
"Everybody's mental health was just down and depressed," McGrew said.
In response, the Relaxation Station was born.
At first located in the SuRF Center, Warner wanted Campus Recreation and Wellness "to have more of a presence on the main campus," McGrew said.
The Campus Wellness team moved the station to Centro, which was successful.
"That's what started it all," McGrew said. "We were only going to be there for a month just to boost everybody's mood, but people liked it so much we stayed the rest of the semester. Now it's a reoccurring thing."
The station lets students take part in arts and crafts, eat free snacks and explore other ways to make their days less demanding.
"People can obviously use it as a way to de-stress and relax with the stresses of college," McGrew said. "We hope to boost everyone's mood."
McGrew said new additions this semester include the "health hut" set-up in the Quad and events such as rock painting, making essential oils and painting doorstops and coasters.
"It's been really good to see the positive impact it's had on campus and how helpful it's been," McGrew said.
Peer wellness educator Haley Thayer said workers at the station hope to boost students’ moods.
"We're there to make people's day better, and that's what I hope. Even if it's just a snack or to make someone smile," she said.
Students who attended the health hut said they enjoyed the experience.
"I was heading to get some food, and they had a huge stand. It looked really fun," first-year student Victoria Ramos said.
She also complimented the message behind the station.
Ramos said: "I like how they actually want people to come to their station. They told us to come over, and we swiped in. Seeing them there actually caring about your wellness is huge."
First-year student Kimberly Flores also described the benefits of this event after getting the opportunity to create her own journal.
"I just got out of a political science class, and we took a lot of notes today, so just taking a breather was able to calm me down for my next class," Flores said.
The Relaxation Station takes place on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. in the Quad.
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