By: Derek Zboran

Have you ever considered how well-being influences our challenges and triumphs?

During October, “Harvesting Hope: Mental Well-Being Awareness Week” demonstrated what can happen when well-being becomes a shared priority across campus. Through a spirit of collaboration, student well-being coordinated a week of events with 23 other partners and engaged over 700 students, faculty, and staff.

The success of our events underscores that there is an essential link between well-being and other campus priorities. Well-being can enhance a diverse range of initiatives within the Division of Student Success, help faculty elevate academic achievement, and empower student organizations with opportunities to serve, connect, and lead.

Fostering a culture of well-being is truly a shared mission!

Here’s a summary of what student well-being did to help coordinate effective activities during Mental Well-Being Awareness Week, October 14th– October 18th:

Monday: students at the forefront

Launched with an energetic kickoff outside the library, Joe’s PEERS drew students into engaging activities and discussions of well-being. For example, they engaged over 100 students in activities like “Pop the Stigma,” which involves popping balloons and debunking myths about mental health.

They also helped students utilize the BetterYou app and take an active role in self-care activities. Events such as these empower student leaders to be on the forefront of building a campus culture that promotes well-being.

Tuesday: Creating spaces for crucial conversations

Financial stress remains a key challenge for many students. Tuesday’s programming took direct aim at this issue when the university libraries and student financial assistance co-hosted a financial literacy session.

This was followed by the “Building HOPE Through Action” panel, where campus leaders and state-wide experts discussed mental health and suicide prevention. These events created spaces for students, faculty, and staff to have crucial conversations on topics that directly impact well-being.

Wednesday: Holistic support for diverse needs

Wednesday brought activities that emphasized a holistic approach to well-being. Student well-being held training for well-being ambassadors as well as a yoga session. Meanwhile, Inclusion and Engagement teamed up with Spectrum to host a fun and informative trivia event in honor of International Pronoun Day. Wellness is multifaceted and involves supporting mental, physical, and social well-being for everyone in our community!

Thursday: Cultivating a caring community

Building community lays the foundation for a thriving campus support system where ideas, resources, and solutions can be shared. “We Care About You a Latte” brought faculty, staff, and students together for morning beverages and conversation. Furthermore, tabling events led by The Student Union Board, Black Gems, and Joe’s PEERS reached over 200 participants and helped connect students with mental health screenings and resources for coping effectively with college stress.

Friday: Hosting immersive well-being experiences

We capped off the week with three ambitiously collaborative events intended to create immersive wellness experiences. Students enjoyed bonding with four-legged friends at “Dog Days,” delved into self-expression at the “Waffles, Wellness, and Writing Workshop,” and gathered for a family-friendly evening at Graduate Family Night. Through collaboration, these programs transformed campus spaces into vibrant centers of well-being.

Achieving through collaboration

Student well-being organized collaborations with staff, faculty, and students. Thanks to all of our partners who helped make Mental Well-Being Awareness week a success, including:

· AGCMO

· Alberici

· ARCO

· Associated Students of the University of Missouri

· Black & Veatch

· Black Gems

· Clayco

· Dean of Students

· Delta Sig

· Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering

· Department of English and Technical Communication

· Graduate Education

· Human Resources

· Inclusion and Engagement

· Joe’s PEERS

· Keeley

· Kiewit

· Spectrum

· Staff Success Center

· Student Financial Assistance

· Student Union Board

· University Libraries

· University Police Department

Student well-being will lead and coordinate Mental Well-Being Awareness Week in 2025 for both the spring and fall semesters. Would you like to be part of our planning committee, or do you know of potential partners for this week-long spread of events? If so, please reach out to Derek Zboran via email: derekzboran@mst.edu.