Sacred Heart University’s Wellness Center and Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP) held the first annual wellness event on Thursday, Oct. 17 in the Loris Forum at the Martire Center for the Liberal Arts.
The Maureen Hamilton Wellness Center served as partners for the event titled “Thrive Together.” The goal of fostering a conversation about self-care and creating meaningful connections was executed by a panel consisting of SHU wellness staff, mental health professionals, students and campus ministry.
This event was created by the CRP due to a shared passion for supporting student wellness through a lens of mental health and recovery.
“Our board member, Bill Mitchell, has been a driving force behind this initiative, as he is deeply committed to expanding and supporting the Collegiate Recovery program here at Sacred Heart University. His dedication, combined with the recognition of growing concerns around loneliness, mental health and addiction helped inspire this event,” said Jeffery LaBella, Collegiate Recovery Program Member and Director of Counseling.
This event strived to promote several key messages, such as making connections, self care, community support and mental health awareness.
“We focused on building supportive relationships with oneself and others while prioritizing mental and physical health through activities like mindfulness and movement. Community support through recovery programs, peer support or faculty connections can lead to transformative healing,” said Kathy Katts, Administrative Associate and Special Projects Coordinator of Student Affairs and Athletics.
The wellness staff aimed to create an environment where individuals felt not only comfortable but empowered to navigate their health and wellness journey. The intention was for students to leave the event with newfound resources and connections to their collegiate community as well as their individual senses of self.
“The goal of this wellness event aimed to initiate conversations around self-care, mental health, addiction recovery and helping others, offering a space where students, faculty and staff can connect with wellness professionals, learn from expert panelists and take practical steps toward their own well-being,” said Katts.
This is the first wellness event to take place on campus due to a recent spike in interpersonal issues among faculty, staff and students.
“This is the first large-scale wellness event of its kind because although wellness staff have always been involved in supporting individual students, we recognized the increasing need for a comprehensive, campus-wide conversation about mental health and connection in the aftermath of recent global and societal challenges,” said LaBella.
SHU students reacted positively to the panel discussion that sparked meaningful conversations amongst the attendees. There was not an empty seat in the forum.
“I felt supported by the speakers and more connected to my peers,” said senior Ava Robb. “I learned to implement a wellness routine into my daily life.”
The panelists for the event hosted one combined discussion, titled “Connection Through Self-Care and Caring For Others.” This conversation included topics such as prioritizing wellness while acknowledging and supporting others on their unique mental health path.
“Our panelists, who include wellness professionals, mental health advocates and recovery experts, discussed how self-care practices like mindfulness, physical activity and emotional awareness can enhance personal well-being, and how compassion, empathy and helping others contribute to stronger community bonds,” said LaBella.
SHU’s wellness journey will not stop with this singular wellness event. The wellness staff is dedicated to ensuring the health of staff and students for years to come.
“Our intention is to make ‘Thrive Together’ an annual event,” Katts said. “Wellness is an ongoing journey, and we want to ensure that our students, faculty and staff have the opportunity to engage in these important conversations year after year.”