Wellness Education and Prevention

At the University of Portland, we define wellness as a state of holistic health that is accompanied by an active and ongoing attention to the 8 dimensions of wellness - Emotional, Physical, Intellectual, Occupational, Spiritual, Environmental, Social, and Financial Wellness. 

We are committed to building a healthy campus community that promotes the well-being and success of all Pilots. Our hope is to support students in becoming actively engaged in their own wellness, now and in the future. We provide opportunities to learn about wellness and its impact on both personal and academic success, and the greater community.

Our Events

Health Huts

The Wellness Center aims to provide regular opportunities for students to stop and reflect on their current state of well-being. Additionally, we aim to provide education and tools to support their wellness. We do this by meeting students where they are at. We set up around campus and collaborate with various clubs to engage with a different topic each week. We work with clubs to share about a different dimension of wellness as it pertains to their specific area and interest. Last year, we collaborated with the Body Positivity Club during National Eating Disorder Awareness Week.

Wellness Workshops

We are fortunate to have so many staff and faculty that are passionate about wellness at the University of Portland. We collaborate with staff and faculty to share about their areas of interest expertise and expertise. Examples of past collaborations have included a sleep workshop with neuroscience professor Dr. Jacquie Van Hoommisseen, a guided forest therapy walk with the Director of Integrative Health and Wellness, Dr. Andrew LaFrenz, and a mindfulness workshop with Professor Corey Pressman.  

Wellness Wagon

During times of stress, such as finals week or midterms, you can find us taking the Wellness Wagon for a spin around campus. We hand out reminders and stress reduction tips, and of course, our favorite comfort foods. Do-nut stress! 

Alcohol Education

We want all Pilots to be safe and healthy! While binge drinking is not as widespread as we sometimes think, some students will choose to try alcohol for the first time. We provide education, resources, and tips to reduce harm to themselves and others. 

Wellness Day

One of our largest events of the year. We love kicking things off at our Wellness Fair and ending the year with a bang at our Wellness Day. Wellness Days are a fun way to explore the 8 Dimensions of Wellness and take a moment to destress before heading into times like Finals Week. We collaborate closely with the Office of Student Activities and other student-led clubs, campus organizations, and community partners to bring booths, activities, and education focused on wellness to the center of campus.

Wellness at Pilots After Dark

Pilots After Dark collaborates with various campus organizations to offer weekend night programming for all students. Last year, we worked with Pilots After Dark to host a Spa Night and bring some calm and relaxation to students before heading into Finals Week.

For any questions or for more information, contact wellness@up.edu.  

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Additional Resources

Togetherall is available as a free and anonymous resource where students can interact with others through a safe online peer-to-peer support platform. Students can also utilize mental health courses, self-assessments, journaling, and goal setting. To register, visit www.togetherall.com and sign up through the university as a student.

Joyages is a free, mental health app that delivers a customized experience designed to empower users to become happier in just minutes each day.  The app encourages positive habit formation and mindset shifting. With customized assessments designed to alert users to mental risks, the Joyages app is a private, user-friendly digital life coach that helps users navigate through life’s toughest moments and build the resilience necessary to thrive. UP students (and their families) can create a free account on the app. To access the code, please visit the Mental Health Resources section on Moodle or email wellness@up.edu. 

Alcohol and Other Drugs Student Wellness Course: This training takes a harm-reduction, knowledge and skills-based approach to education and engagement pertinent to making healthier choices, managing new and unfamiliar stressors, and bystander intervention. Get Inclusive’s AOD Student Wellness Training seeks to increase help-seeking and active bystander behaviors by increasing knowledge and confidence when it comes to understanding risk factors, identifying risky behaviors, exploring their personal motivations for making good choices, and learning how to stick to boundaries that better choices. Every student has been added to a course on Moodle entitled Get Inclusive, where this training can be found. 

Mental Health & Well-being Course: Changing minds changes behaviors, which is why this mental health training course focuses on encouraging you to question your beliefs, trust your instincts, and recognize red flags so that you'll be ready to take a proactive approach to mental health and wellness. In part one of the course, learners are invited to “unlearn” assumptions about illness, wellness, and the shame associated with negative stereotypes and discrimination. Key areas of instruction and investigation include exploring mental illness stigma, social and cultural biases, and the diversity of individual lived experiences relating to needing and getting help. In part two, learners get an opportunity to explore important strategies, scripts, sources, and self-care practices that will help them get the help they need and/or offer assistance and support to their friends, peers, and community. Every student has been added to a course on Moodle entitled Get Inclusive, where this training can be found.