The Picky Pad Workshop and Therapy Dogs Event The Xavierite
During Mental Health Awareness week, students were invited to a series of events hosted at SXU. The events were a collaboration hosted by the Psychology Department, Psi Chi: International Honor Society in Psychology, the Counseling Center, and the Art Department. The event occurred from Oct. 7 to Oct. 10.
Mental Health Awareness week was established in the United States of America in 1990 according to the American Hospital Association.
During the event, refreshments such as sliders, bruschetta, fruits, and lemonade were served to students during the activities.
On Monday, Oct. 7, the Psi Chi organization hosted the Yoga Retreat with guest instructor, Deanna Spears, in the Wiseman Student Lounge. Angela Pirlott, the Interim Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, oversaw this week’s events.
“On Monday we had yoga for students in the Wiseman Lounge, and every single mat was filled. Stress and anxiety can seriously impair a student’s academic performance, which is why we are providing workshops and events like this for students to try and relieve some of that stress,” Pirlott said.
The Counseling Center and Art Department hosted a joint event in the Wiseman Student Lounge: Picky Pad Workshop and Therapy Dogs, on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
The Art Department provided students with beads, glue, and resin to create their own picky pads and a homemade fidget toy meant to reduce stress and improve dexterity.
LaTreese Hall, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology, oversaw the Tuesday events. “Saint Xavier has never hosted an event for mental health week before, so we are hoping to make this an annual thing. We are hoping this reduces the stress levels for students, and they come back” Hall said.
The event also included Love on a Leash: Volunteer Therapy Dogs. 4 dogs were accompanied by their handlers in the Wiseman Lounge for students to pet them.
Love on a Leash is an organization that was established as a non-profit organization in 1995. The Illinois branch that visited SXU was established in 2017. Members can register their privately-owned dogs to the organization.
Gia Macias, a Lecturer in Psychology, attended on behalf of the Counseling Department. “I know Psychology is a stressful department, which is why our psych students were encouraged to go to this event. We are hoping this will help them in some way,” explained Macias.
Stephanie Gonzalez and Ivy Cruz, Junior Psychology majors, attended the event as well. “We were all encouraged to come to the event by our professor of Cognitive Psych. It was extra credit if we attended the event, but I just wanted to come anyways,” recalled Cruz.
Other Psychology students shared that they were encouraged to go to the events held this week by the Psychology department itself.
India Jackson and Maggie Niemic, Senior Psychology majors, were given extra credit from their Research Methods class if they attended the event. “Research Methods is very difficult; it is like an 8 out of 10 in levels of difficulty. I find that I am stressed all the time, so I wanted to come to this event to see if it would help in any way,” explained Niemic.
Member Debbie Kasput joined in 2018 and has two dogs involved within the organization. “Being able to touch and play with animals is so beneficial to happiness within young people,” she said.
Peggy O’Donnell, member of the organization remarked “touching the animals takes away all the negativity in your body and replaces it with positive energy.” More than 50 students were lined up to pet the 4 dogs that were available.
Clay making was offered at the Oct. 9 event for mental health awareness week. Nathan Peck, Divisional Director of the Visual Arts Center at SXU ran the workshop.
Students gathered around to mold clay and talk about their favorite stress-relieving coping strategies. “This is a therapeutic exercise when we use the clay. It relieves stress because we can be creative, and it feels good in our hands,” Peck stated.
Peck also stated that clay has been used to relieve mental health issues like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, among other things. “It is a very real possibility that we will get to fire our clay creations in a kiln,” announced Peck.
Pizza and refreshments were provided for students who attended the event. On Thursday, the Art Department hosted a painting workshop, where they provided paint and brushes for students who wanted to create art.
To make an appointment for the Counseling Center, call 773-298-4045 or visit the counseling center located at 3911 W. 103rd St.
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