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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….. 1.
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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