Thriving in Higher Ed program set for Jan. 22

Ohio University students are invited to “Thriving in Higher Ed: Strategies for Student Wellness and Resilience,” a virtual program offering practical, evidence-based tools to manage stress, build resilience and connect with campus support.

The program will be held Jan. 22, from 6 to 7 p.m. on Microsoft Teams, and registration is required.

“Thriving in higher education includes having the tools, support and community to navigate stress before it becomes overwhelming. This event connects students with practical strategies and campus resources that make well-being achievable, not abstract,” said Ijeoma Idika-Chima, mental health affairs commissioner with the Graduate Student Senate.

“As the Student Senate Mental Health Advisor, I strive to inform students of the resources on campus and outside of campus. Knowing about different strategies and campus resources allows for higher levels of overall wellness," said Shana Collins, university life senator-at-large and mental health advisor with the Student Senate.

The session will share evidence-based wellness strategies students can use immediately, along with guidance on how to access mental health resources across Ohio University.

“This program reflects collaboration of students, faculty, and campus partners toward the well-being of Bobcats - whether online, regional, undergraduate or graduate. It brings together resources from counseling, research, health promotion and peer support to meet OHIO students where they are. By offering this program virtually, we’re creating space for students across OHIO campuses where conversations about wellness, resilience and access to support feel truly accessible,” Idika-Chima said.

By the end of the program, participants will be able to identify three wellness strategies to manage stress and enhance resilience, recognize two campus mental health resources and how to access them, and connect with Bobcat Peer Educators from the Office of Health Promotion and a Campus Community Health Worker for navigation support. Participants will receive a certificate of participation and a free digital wellness toolkit will be shared following the program.

Collaborators for this program include the Graduate Student Senate, Counseling and Psychological Services, the Student Senate, the George E. Hill Center for Counseling and Research, the Office of Health Promotion and the Consortium for Health Education in Appalachia Ohio (CHEAO).

The program will feature Kristin Chamberlain, an assistant professor and director of the George E. Hill Center for Counseling and Research in the Patton College of Education. The Hill Center serves as the counselor education program’s training facility while also providing counseling and human development services.

Also presenting is Stephanie Maccombs-Hunter, assistant director for outreach and consultation with Counseling and Psychological Services, who coordinates outreach programs, including Bobcats Who Care suicide prevention training and the counseling center’s liaison program. Michelle Gorman, a campus community health worker with Well Being and Recreation, will provide navigation support and facilitate access to campus resources.