On Sept. 6, ETSU Student Wellness held their Wellness Corner grand opening from 12-4 p.m. on the first floor of the Wayne G. Basler Center for Physical Activity where they provided free smoothie bowls, tea bags, squish toys and other stress-relieving goodies. The event also included a raffle giveaway for students to enter for a chance to win well-being brand products such as Lululemon, Real Hot Yoga and Buff City Soap. Promoting community health, Student Wellness strives towards a brighter and happier future for the ETSU public.

Halie Darby, assistant director of Student Wellness, oversees wellness programming on campus including seminars and outreach events. Looking at emotional, spiritual, cultural, intellectual, financial, environmental, occupational, physical and social wellness, Darby mentioned that their hope is to cover all the help a student may need within these nine dimensions.

Photo of Halie Darby at the Wellness Corner grand opening. (Nikki Chambers/East Tennessean)

“We really looked at the environment here and what we thought was most important for ETSU students and that’s what we based that off of,” Darby said.

Along with a variety of mind and body assistive resources, the program also offers mental health first aid training to ease the conversation of mental health for students. Darby referred to it as CPR for mental health to help structure, lead and open the topic of students’ cognitive well-being.

“We understand that everyone needs something different for their well-being,” Darby said, “That’s why we have nine different dimensions of wellness.”

With a successful turnout, the Wellness Corner opening event had over 200 students visit and take advantage of their services, leaving staff overwhelmed with joy and anticipation for the future of the program.

Photo of students at the CPA Wellness Corner grand opening. (Nikki Chambers/East Tennessean)

“My goal is to show students that whether it is in an event like this or one of our huge events, that we are here for them, that they’re well-being is more important to us than anything else and that we are all in this together,” Darby said.

Open from 12-8 p.m., Monday through Friday, students are welcome to visit and talk to staff where they can receive wellness consultations or answer any questions they may have. Looking ahead, Student Wellness has large-scale events planned such as the “Breastival” for Breast Cancer Awareness month in October as well as a Halloween party where they will talk about safe alcohol and drug use while also having fun.

For more information on the ETSU Student Wellness program, visit https://www.etsu.edu/students/campusrec/welliness/dimensions.php. For information on Wellness Seminars, visit https://www.etsu.edu/students/campusrec/welliness/seminars.php.