July 2022 Newsletter

Don’t look now, but it is already July, which means a new academic year is fast-approaching. A new academic year brings with it many new and exciting opportunities and possibilities. At the same time, it also brings a new set of challenges and struggles in and out of the classroom. These challenges and struggles are not uncommon, and they will look different for each student. The question then is how can you, the family, help to support and enhance your student’s ability to persist through these not yet encountered issues?

            Encouraging your student to be proactive, as opposed to reactive, with regards to their wellness can make a significant difference in their ability to overcome challenges. Wellness is a term we often hear used, so it is important to define what we mean by “wellness.” The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) describes wellness as having purpose in life, active involvement in satisfying work and play, joyful relationships, a healthy body and living environment, and happiness. SAMHSA also includes eight dimensions of wellness, each with some variation: (a) emotional, (b) social, (c) occupational, (d) financial, (e) environmental, (f) physical, (g) intellectual, and (h) spiritual. Each of these dimensions are intertwined and play a vital role in helping individuals maintain their wellbeing.

Maintaining balance in each dimension helps to build resiliency, which is a vital characteristic for contending with difficulties. The American Psychological Association (APA) defines resiliency as “the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences.” Resiliency provides the ability for an individual to be mentally, emotionally, and behaviorally flexible in order to adapt and respond to external as well as internal demands.

As students encounter new demands in their academic and social lives, they need to be able to cope with the stresses on their cognitive and emotional resources.  This is why being proactive when it comes to wellness is vital to their success. Proactive wellness strategies can include

·       Maintaining a normal routine

·       Practicing health habits and self-care – getting plenty of sleep, eating well, regular exercise

·       Taking mental breaks and time for self – going for walks, watching a movie, etc.

·       Implementing mindfulness and meditation – these practices reduce cortisol and decrease stress

·       Stay socially connected – make concerted efforts to build and maintain healthy relationships

·       Limit exposure to sensationalized media and news events – stay aware of what is happening, but only in small, structured segments of time

The professionals in Student Affairs can assist your student with implementing these strategies into their daily life. Implementation of these strategies will assist your student with increasing their wellness and building resiliency to handle the challenge they will inevitably face. A proactive approach to wellness helps to shield your student from experiencing significant struggles related to their mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. This in turn increases their ability to perform well in their personal as well as academic life at Radford University. And, if your student does begin to struggle with their wellbeing, encouraging them to access available campus resources - such as Student Counseling Services (SCS) - at the onset of the issue versus weeks or months down the road will pay tremendous dividends.