St. Olaf College | Staff and Faculty Well-Being
March 1, 2024
2024
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March/April 2024 Well-Being Newsletter

Welcome to the March/April edition of the Well-Being Newsletter!

March Mental Health Awareness and Trainings

Below are several opportunities to learn about mental health, early warning signs for you or your peers, resources to use or refer peers to and training opportunities for crisis situations. We want you to feel prepared on campus and aware of where you can find help: 

  • Mental Health First Aid (certificate session with local instructor)
    • Saturday, March 9 | 9 a.m.–4 p.m. | Buntrock 142 | Sign Up
  • Mental Health 101: Green Bandana Project: helping friends on campus with mental health concerns
    • Tuesday, March 12 | 6–7 p.m. | HH 502
  • Mental Health — Secondary Trauma Prevention and Intervention*
    • Thursday, March 14 | 6:30–7:30 p.m. | HH 501
  • Suicide Prevention Training — QPR in person (certificate session with instructor from NAMI MN)
    • Friday, March 15 | 3–4:30 p.m. | Buntrock 142 | Sign Up
  • Mental Health 101: Green Bandana Project: helping friends on campus with mental health concerns 
    • Saturday, March 16 | 12–1 p.m. | BC 012
    • Sunday, March 17 | 2–3 p.m. | BC 012
  • Men’s Mental Health Awareness
    • Tuesday, March 19 | 6:30–7:30 p.m. | HH 501

*This presentation will provide education and resources about secondary trauma, specifically for healthcare workers or those who plan to go into healthcare professions. All are welcome, but we encourage nursing, pre-health, and social work students to join us as well as EMTs and Community Service Officers.

Not sure which training is the best fit for you? Contact Laura Turek.

Stress Management Support — Sky Campus Happiness

Tuesday, March 19–Thursday, March 21 | 5–8 p.m. | Signup Required

SKY Campus Happiness is a comprehensive well-being and resilience program designed to help students, faculty, and staff achieve their fullest potential. Their aim is to promote happiness, well-being, harmony in diversity, leadership, service, and create a stress-free campus!

Please note: The SKY Happiness Retreat is offered to selected participants on a first-come, first-served basis after completing a short application and orientation session. Attendance to all sessions of the retreat is required.

View testimonials from past participants here, and more information on Sky Campus here.

Staff and Faculty Community Lunch Space 

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday | 12–1 p.m. | BC 221
Wednesday | 12–1 p.m. | BC 220

Don’t let your lunch break be an afterthought! It’s time to break the cycle and head over to Buntrock. Invite some colleagues from another department and bring your lunch or stop by the Cage or Stav Hall for some community time while you eat.

Managing your Sleep Schedule during Daylight Savings

Daylight Savings starts on Sunday, March 10, when we move our clocks one hour ahead. Even minor changes in our sleep habits can have a greater effect than we sometimes realize. The Mayo Clinic offers tips on how to minimize the disruption to your sleep schedule in this How to Manage Daylight Savings Time guide.

April is Stress Awareness Month

April is National Stress Awareness Month. While stress is often unavoidable, there are some ways to reduce its negative impact on us. Here are some resources:

April Walking Challenge

Spring is coming — let’s get outside and walk! 

In April, we will launch a campus-wide Walking Challenge. We will provide an online form where you can enter your daily step total. There is no minimum required to participate. All steps throughout the day count — exercise, shopping, yard work, golfing, walking the dog, and any other steps you take! More details about the Walking Challenge will be shared in the coming weeks.  Until then, here are some motivational articles about the power of walking: