Utah State University celebrates World Mental Health Day

LOGAN, Utah (ABC4) — Utah State University (USU) hosted its sixth annual campus-wide celebration of World Mental Health Day on Tuesday.

Alyssa Jensen, an employee wellness manager for USU, said that the event is used to highlight the resources, services, and education surrounding mental health for employees, students, and faculty.

“Our mental is so important. Especially since COVID, it’s been a hot topic,” Jensen said. “And just like we take care of our physical health, we need to take care of our mental health as well. Not just for ourselves, but for those around us.”

Whether it is for personal use or for a loved one, USU’s mental health resources are available to all students and faculty. Jensen said that it is important to know what resources are available.

“Everyone needs [mental health resources]. Even if you’re not dealing with [poor mental health] yourself, you probably know someone who is,” Jensen said.

The event on Tuesday offered self-care kits, flower planting, yoga, chair massages, a music therapy program, and more. Additionally, the Cache Humane Society brought dogs on campus for people on campus to play with.

Year-round on campus, there is a counseling and prevention service for students and an employee assistance program.

Hope Walk

USU started a “Hope Walk,” where participants can write the name of someone they know who struggles with mental health on a green ribbon sticker. They will carry that sticker with them on the walk and then place it on a poster at the end.

Jensen says the goal is to show people that they are not alone.

“The Hope Walk, we started, is a way just to be mindful and to think about the positives surrounding mental health,” Jensen said.

More information on mental health resources at USU can be found on the Aggie Thrive and Aggie Wellness websites.