The Wellness Impact (Freshman Family)

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George Mason University

The Wellness Impact: Strategies for Success Using a Holistic Approach Kathryn Walker

Wellness, Alcohol and Violence Education and Services (WAVES)

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Learning Objectives‌.. n  Learn

a little information about a variety of health and safety topics for potential conversations with your student before the fall to ultimately enhance success.

n  Be

able to identify campus resources for your student.

+ Academic Impacts: n 

The ACHA-National College Health Assessment II (ACHANCHA II) is a national research survey organized by the American College Health Association (ACHA). 19,861 respondents.

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Within the last 12 months, students reported the following factors affecting their individual academic performance:

Learning Services

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What is Wellness?

n Wellness

is an active, lifelong process of becoming aware of choices and making decisions toward a more balanced and fulfilling life

+ What Do You Want?

• • • • •

“Successful” “Get Degree/Finish” “Be Happy” “Have good experience” “Make life-long friends”

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“Health Promotion in higher education is to support student success (WHO).”

Get Connected

+ Physical Dimension •

Recreation/exercise

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Nutrition

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Physical Activity

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Many health benefits Increased energy and focus for academics Opportunity to socialize Club Sports

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Mason Recreation Look in your orientation book for more details on Mason Recreation

Nutrition + •

Dining Dining Services and their Dietician

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Student Health Services

+ Social/Emotional Dimension • • • •

Stress Sleep Mental Health Healthy Relationships

+ Stress….

Within the last 12 months,

30.3% of students reported stress was affecting academic performance

Resources • •

Center for the Advancement of Well Being Counseling and Psychological Services

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Sleep Hygiene “Sleep may be one of the most important factors for student success and often one of the most neglected.�

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How Much Is Enough? n

8 – 10 hours needed for a full cycle of sleep - - body does all restoration, repair, and growth during sleep. Average number of hours of sleep for college students is 7 hours

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Mental health impacted most by lack of sleep

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Worse student’s sleep is over 7 day period more likely they are to have a bacterial or viral infection

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A students had better than average hours of sleep

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B students slightly below average hours of sleep

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C students over 50% below average hours of sleep

+ Mental Health

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Awareness of feelings

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Opportunity to address personal issues

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Learn life skills

+ Healthy Relationships Resource: WAVES

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Healthy Relationships n Relationships

aren’t always easy to maintain…college opens the door for all kinds of new relationships and relationship challenges such as new friends, roommate issues, casual dating, and serious dating.

n ACHA

data indicates 10.3% of students report experiencing dating violence

+ Alcohol When we ask students what percentage of their peers drink regularly‌.what did they say?

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n Answer…..92%

n Actually

only 60% report drinking in the past 30 days Recovery

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Correlation between number of drinks per week and GPA…..

“A” students report drinking fewer than

“B” students report drinking between

4

5 and 6

drinks a week

drinks a week

“C” students report drinking between

“D” and “F” students report drinking more than

7 and 8

9

drinks a week

drinks per week

Alcohol + •

Share your expectations

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Ask about their plan

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Stay informed

Look out for big drinking events •

• Don’t

drink the punch

How To Help From a Distance…..

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2.

Listen Offer support

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Don’t wait until something becomes a crisis

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Make plans to continue current support

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Remind your student of resources on campus

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On Campus Resources n

Wellness, Alcohol and Violence Education and Services

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Counseling and Psychological Services

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Student Health Services

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Office of Disability Services

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Housing and Residential Life