Health & Wellness

Transcript

Now more than ever, it’s important to care for our students physical, mental, and emotional health. Our next student is sharing a powerful, personal story of their mental health wellness journey. Dial in closely as we meet Alexandra, who is an advocate for mental health. Alexandra walks us through several health and wellness resources on campus and in the Ames community.

– What’s up y’all I knew to be successful in college, I needed a university that focused on more than just education. A happy and healthy environment, and a strong support system were really important to me. Iowa State University and the city of Ames had everything I was looking for. I was enrolled and excited to be a part of Iowa State’s highly ranked event management program. Unfortunately not long after school started, I was faced with some mental health challenges. I was struggling to get out of bed to see friends or take part in sorority events. Let alone go to class and complete assignments. Noticing my declining grades, my academic advisor met with me and she encouraged me to seek out on-campus resources for student health. It was nerve-wracking to admit I needed that kind of support, but I quickly realized I was not alone. Navigating mental health is difficult and it affects a lot of college students’ lives. My stress levels caused me to be physically sick so I was going to Thielen Health Center a lot. Creating a same day or next day appointment is really easy and they work really hard to make it accessible even with my limited insurance. I was also utilizing student counseling services. They paired me with an individual counselor for a few meetings and then found me an affordable therapist in Ames to continue long-term services for. They really advocated for me to have psychiatric services that actually worked. Overwhelmed, I dropped out of college at one point, fearful I couldn’t do it. But because of Iowa State’s support resources, I now get to see a future with a college degree in it. And I will always be thankful for that. Iowa State’s wellness services have truly changed my life for the better. Thank you for listening to my story. Stay happy and healthy. Back over to you, Alex.

– Thank you for sharing your story, Alexandra. Your openness is sure to help other students who may encounter similar challenges. Additionally, Iowa State supports overall student health through fully equipped gyms, group fitness classes, intramural sports and outdoor recreation.