West Virginia University has been awarded the Higher Education Policy Comission (HEPC) Campus Mental Health Grant; a project which seeks to bring a unique approach to both clinical intervention as well as outreach and education at WVU. The project consists of a threefold approach to addressing college students’ mental well-being using Therapeutic Adventure. Using the watershed metaphor as a guide, WVU will employ Therapeutic Adventure at three stages including Headwaters, MidStream and Downstream. Each stage will employ a different programmatic effort. All programs and activities are free to WVU students. Each stage and its available activities are listed below.
Headwaters
Adventure WV and Carruth have partnered together to offer multiple open enrollment adventure-based programs designed to build community, build resilience, normalize mental well-being and familiarize them with mental health and well-being resources on campus.Friday, February 17
Well-being Adventure Series: Climb and Connect!
Wednesday, March 29th
Well-being Adventure Series: Paddle and Process!
Well-being Adventure Series: Ride and Reflect!
Monday, April 17th
Well-being Adventure Series: Spring Wildflower Walk and Talk!
Click here to learn more about the Headwaters Activities or to register .
Midstream
Play with Purpose - The Midstream component of the Well-being Adventure Series combines a morning of Adventure based programming with WVU’s Mental Health 101 Workshop in which participants will learn about WVU resources supporting mental health and how to assist a friend or peer who may need help. Participants are asked to complete the short online Kognito module before participating. The Midstream offering is open to all students and is especially beneficial for Student Leaders such as RA’s and Student Org Leaders.
Sunday, March 26
Well-being Adventure Series: Zip, Sip and Learn!
Click here to learn more about the Midstream Activities or to register
.
Downstream
The downstream programming will also be used to support clinical offerings through
the Carruth Center.The spring Well-being Adventure Series group is called “Get
More Out of Life”. Group members will learn from both positive psychology and therapeutic
adventure how to increase their well-being. Members will be supported to develop
their strengths, practice more gratitude, interact more constructively with friends
and loved ones, get more enjoyment out of their daily activities and feel more
optimistic about their future.
For example, members will experience ecotherapy techniques, celebrate each other’s
strengths during problem-based group development, and process, with each other,
what they’ve learned during sessions and have practiced for homework each week.
The group will culminate with an outdoor experience that is decided upon by the
group members and could include options such as backpacking, aerial adventures and
camping, or paddling. This group is open to any interested WVU students but could
especially benefit students who are feeling isolated or lonely, or who struggle
with anxiety and/or depression. The group will meet weekly on Tuesdays from 5:30-6:45
p.m.
For questions, or to express interest in participation, please contact Kelly Bailey or Chris Hamilton.