Last year's mental health fair provided information about individual and group resources available to the DePaul community. (DePaul University/Division of Student Affairs)
Raising awareness about mental health and well-being resources for students, mental health fairs will be offered again on the Loop and Lincoln Park campuses on Jan. 17 and 18.
The fairs were held for the first time last year and continue in response to the toll taken by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the university community. The fairs are a collaboration between the Office of Health Promotion and Wellness, University Counseling and Psychological Services and other campus partners who help sustain a healthy campus.
"Mental health affects every single human in one way or another, so this event will be great for everyone," says Christine Augustin, health promotion coordinator in HPW.
"We've learned that the community wants to be engaged with these topics in creative ways, so, while there will be information available, there will also be fun and support in an inclusive environment," Augustin adds.
Tyler Wurst, director of Health Promotion and Wellness, notes that the fairs, which will be held in the DePaul Center concourse and the Lincoln Park Student Center atrium, offer the information in welcoming and educational ways.
"It's important that DePaul works to normalize conversations around mental health and increases students' ability to identify warning signs, in themselves or others," Wurst says. "These efforts go a long way toward increasing overall campus health, by allowing us to take care of ourselves and each other."
Students from all backgrounds and colleges and at all educational levels are invited to participate in the fairs, as are faculty and staff. In addition to HPW and UCAPS, the Department of Residential Education, the Ray and the Center for Students with Disabilities will be represented, as will the Division of Mission and Ministry. These areas will showcase resources such as the Ray's eight-week fitness and accountability program
Well Fit U and UCAPS' group counseling.
Attendees can partake in mindfulness exercises with essential oils, coloring, trivia and other interactive games centered on mental health topics. There will be food and giveaways, and DIBS will make an appearance!
In addition to the mental health fairs, HPW offers Mental Health First Aid Training, Brain Fuel Week activities that address mental well-being, individual mental health support, peer support and referral services. UCAPS also offers individual and
group counseling and off-campus referrals.
Learn more about
HPW here and
UCAPS here. Find more information about the
Loop mental health fair here and the
Lincoln Park fair here. For 24/7 mental health support for students, call 773-325-CARE (2273) and select option 1.