Ways to Flourish

Content warning: This episode contains discussion of diets and unhealthy eating patterns.

Diet culture has become pervasive in our society in large part due to misinformation spread through social media. Wanting to try new diets and eating patterns is especially common during and after the holidays. This week, Stephanie May, William & Mary's Registered Dietitian, talks to us about the unhealthy practices many people often fall into around the holidays, common misconceptions about nutrition and dieting, and trustworthy resources people can consult for reliable nutrition information. Most importantly, enjoy your Thanksgiving, and while being mindful, enjoy your food!

Resources
Stephanie's page
eatright.org

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States. According to the Cleveland Clinic, about 14 million Americans are newly infected with HPV each year. Nancy Moul, a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner at W&M, talks to us today about how HPV impacts college students, what some common misconceptions are about HPV, how one can get the HPV vaccine GARDASIL 9, and how one can take precautions to prevent HPV.

Content warning: This episode contains discussion of self-harm and suicide.

Today, we sit down with Dr. Jennifer Cross, Director of Research at the Center for Gifted Education and Institute for Research on the Suicide of Gifted Students. We discuss how to check in on friends, why suicide is so prevalent in the college age group, and how William & Mary's suicide prevention efforts differ from other colleges.

Resources:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741741
W&M Campus Connect website (to contact, email [email protected])
W&M Suicide Prevention Coalition website
The Institute for Research on the Suicide of Gifted Students
The Jed Foundation website

The term "spirituality" often gets misunderstood, with many thinking it is the same concept as religion. Even though it is one of the eight dimensions of wellness, spiritual wellness is often overlooked and neglected, particularly in higher education. Jenny Call, Wellness Professional and Health Coach, talks to us today about how spirituality has developed, how it benefits our well-being, and how someone who may want to tap into their spirituality can begin their journey.

Contact Jenny Call about spiritual wellness at [email protected].

The Bee McLeod Recreation Center offers many services and resources to help you keep up your physical (and, therefore, mental) health. These include FitWell classes and personal training. Today, Devin Pereira, Personal Training Supervisor, joins us to talk about what personal training at W&M looks like, how regular movement benefits our mental well-being, and what someone should do if they are interested in becoming more regularly active.

Information on applying to become a personal trainer at W&M can be found here. Fall 2021 applications are due 10/29/21.

Email [email protected] if you have any questions about personal training.

Relationships in college are often filled with new experiences, and with new experiences can arise new problems. For Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we have a discussion with Liz Cascone (Director of the Haven), Hannah Artiles-Stravers (Sexual Violence Prevention Specialist and Asst. Director of the Office of Health Promotion), Priya Singh (member of HOPE), and Erica Eubank (Haven employee). We talk about what healthy relationships look like, what red flags people should look out for, where we often get our expectations of relationships, and what someone should do if they begin to question the health of a relationship.

Resources:
The Haven website
The Avalon Center of Williamsburg

All too often, we find ourselves getting caught up in our day-to-day lives and struggling to keep going by ourselves. Today, Eric Garrison, co-host of the Ways to Flourish podcast, gives a talk that everyone should hear: seeking sensible support shows strength. There are resources available to help you. Be open to reaching out to them, because everyone deserves to feel less alone.

Regular contact with nature is a huge part of improving mental well-being. Today, Dr. Dorothy Ibes, Senior Lecturer, sits down with us to explain what the Parks & Ecotherapy Research Lab does, what the Campus Nature Rx Symposium on October 22nd will be like, how nature benefits mental health, and how the W&M community can access nature resources around campus.

Resources:
parksresearchlab.com
campusnature.com

Content warning: episode contains discussion of self-harm/suicide.

October is LGBT History Month, and October 10 is World Mental Health Day. For queer-identifying individuals, mental health resources are often severely limited. Vincent SheaBerry, Co-President of the Rainbow Coalition at W&M,  joins us today to talk about barriers for LGBTQ+ individuals in seeking mental health care, the experience of going to W&M as a queer-identifying person, and how one can be an effective ally to the LGBTQ+ community.

Locate Transgender Resources and Referrals in the Resources section of wm.edu/wellness

W&M Students can contact the W&M Counseling Center at 757-221-3620.

Connect with the W&M Rainbow Coalition at https://tribelink.wm.edu/organization/rainbow.

The Trevor Project is a 24/7 information and support hotline for LGBTQ young people. Text 678-678 anytime to connect with an off-campus counselor, and for more resources, go to www.thetrevorproject.org.

Listening to one's body and self-awareness are two practices that often fall by the wayside when getting caught up in our day-to-day lives. Yoga therapy is a service offered at William & Mary, and today, we are joined once again by certified yoga therapists Patti DeBlass and Cindy Crace to hear about how yoga therapy is beneficial for not only the mind, but the entire body.