Pramesh Shah and Hadley Bodell
Staff Writer and Editor in Chief
Students gathered at ISU for the annual Health Fair, an event designed to show students healthy habits and the resources available to them at the university. Many of the booths had hands-on opportunities for students to learn about a campus resource or tackle one of their own health goals.
The ISU Psychology Clinic did depression and anxiety screenings, which rings relevant to college students. With the pressure of grades, tough classes, incorporating extracurriculars and the ever-looming final exam week, students can experience severe anxiety during the spring semester.
“This is essential for student well-being. Mental health affects every aspect of our lives including our physical health, and mental health check-ups should be normalized,” said Crystal Alexander, a senior ABSN student in the ISU nursing program.
The accelerated nursing program at ISU teaches students about all the campus resources like counseling, biofeedback, and disability services.
“As future nurses, it’s important that we understand how to care for ourselves as well as being familiar with these kinds of resources that can help our future patients,” Alexander said.
Students often get caught during this time of year scheduling everything except time off. Between jobs, internships and classes, the spring can feel less like a breath of fresh flowery air and more like a looming, suffocating rain cloud. ISU Health Sciences and the Health Fair event are determined to relieve students of that feeling and show them resources are available for efficient health awareness.
“I’m taking 15 credits and working, so I basically never go to the doctor unless I’m really sick,” said Pragya Pandey, a senior ASBN student. “Walking through here showed me that taking care of myself doesn’t have to be this massive time commitment, and I actually need to start scheduling breaks just like I schedule my classes.”
It’s also no secret some college students struggle with health insurance or paying for out-of-pocket medical care. The Health Fair is an opportunity to share information with students about free campus resources they may not know about.
“For example, we have an audiology clinic, services for learning disabilities, stress management, the student health clinic, even dental services,” Alexander said. “I hope more students will use these resources available to our campus community. Preventive care is far more cost-effective than treating disease after the fact, financially as well as for our overall wellbeing.”
Alexander said insurance is often the most intimidating part of healthcare for college students. ISU can help students find affordable care even if they are uninsured. Most of the booths at this year’s Health Fair were run by fellow students. They not only informed visitors, but encouraged them with healthy habits and new advice.
“Honestly, I didn’t realize how much drinking three energy drinks a day was messing with my resting heart rate until the nursing students checked it today,” Pandey said after attending the Health Fair. “I’m definitely going to try swapping at least one of them out for water and actually getting up to stretch during my study blocks.”
Pandey said if there’s one specific screening or booth to attend at the Health Fair, it’s the depression and anxiety screening.
“We’re all super burned out right now with finals coming up, and just talking to the psych students made me realize it’s totally okay to admit when you’re overwhelmed.”
