The Office of Community Health Promotion provides preventive, educational, and equitable strategies to help the Wooster campus community achieve physical, mental, and social well-being. The office is dedicated to empowering students, faculty, and staff to attain their highest level of health while at Wooster and beyond.
Rachel David, Director of Community Health Promotion
Office: Longbrake Student Wellness Center
Email: rdavid@wooster.edu
Phone: 330-263-2299
*All services can be implemented in multiple formats, including small groups, class presentations, individual sessions, and workshops. Unless otherwise listed, all event days/times will be communicated via campus email.
Scot Wellness Peer Health Education
As an important part of the office of community health promotion, Peer health educators promote wellness, plan events, collect data, and connect students to health-related resources. Topics include:
• Alcohol Abuse Prevention and Education
• Effective Communication and Relationships
• Exercise and Nutrition
• Self-Compassion and Mental Health Promotion
• Sexual Health
• Sexual Respect
• Sleep Health
• Stress Management, Mental Health, and Suicide Prevention
The community health promotion office utilizes a harm-reduction approach to address student alcohol concerns. The following interventions are designed to provide students with resources to make safer choices:
Party Positive:
- Identify the signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning and intoxication
- Learn to reduce high-risk drinking behavior among peers
- Intervene in situations that could become dangerous
- Monitor and host registered campus events
Safer Sipping – An annual tabling event that educates students about standard drink sizes, alcohol poisoning and intoxication, intervening in emergency situations, the sober curiosity movement, and drink refusal skills.
The Art of Friendship:
- Practiceand learn conversation techniques to strengthen friendships and network with others
- Learn ways to expand your social circle
- Identify various levels of friendship and how to build at each level
Health Equity Focus Groups
- Collect data to drive programs that eliminate barriers to well-being services based on race/ethnicity/language, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, income and other factors
- Discuss ways to increase access to services for equity-deserving student groups
Let’s Lunch:
We’ve all been there:
- A friend cancels lunch plans at the last minute
- Our class schedules don’t line up with regular mealtimes
- We’re trying to meet people outside of our regular friend group
Whatever your reason, join other students who want to eat together!
Active Minds: Validate, Appreciate, Refer (V-A-R)
- Validate the feelings of others by practicing empathetic listening skills and exercises
- Provide affirmation and appreciation for openness and vulnerability
- Refer peers to wellness services when they need additional support
QPR: Suicide Prevention:
- Identify at-risk individuals for mental health issues
- Recognize warning signs of suicidal ideation
- Practice having difficult conversations and ask about suicidal ideation
- Learn 3 simple steps to question, persuade, and refer people to get help
Intro to Mindfulness and Wellness Resources:
- Learn simple ways to manage stress using mindfulness and deep breathing
- Learn how to implement healthy habits into your daily life
- Learn about Wellness resources and how to access them
Lunch Hour Wellness: Pilates and Yoga
Mat-Based Pilates:
Mondays, 12:10 pm – 12:50 pm, Starts August 26th: Andrew Aerobic Studio
This all-levels class focuses on strength, stability, posture, breath control, and flexibility. Each class will work to balance all muscle groups’ strength and flexibility using controlled movements. Emphasis on core strengthening will help create stability.
All-levels Vinyasa Yoga
Thursdays, 11:00 am – 11:50 am, Starts August 29th: Scot Center Hot Box
Vinyasa yoga focuses on linking breath and movement to build a series of flowing postures to train your flexibility, strength and balance. This class is designed to be approachable for participants with any level of yoga experience.
Sex on the Quad: Sexual Health and Wellness Fair
- Learn about various forms of contraception and how to use them
- Learn about wellness resources available on campus and in the community
- Practice conversation starters on sexual health and consent
Hot Scots in Your Area:
- How to approach someone you’reinterested in: We’ll give you tips on how to start a conversation and show your interest in a respectful way
- How to plan a date:We’ll cover ideas for fun and affordable dates that will help you get to know each other better
- How to communicate effectively:We’ll talk about how to keep the lines of communication open and how to set boundaries
- Consent and Sex:Giving and receiving consent, and sexual health resources
- Rejection:We’ll give you tips on how to tell someone you’re not interested in continuing to date, and we’ll talk about how to move on from a relationship
Heartbreak How-To: Navigating a Breakup
- Learn coping skillsto deal with a romantic, friend, or familial breakup
- Learnhow to feel comfortable with choosing to date or staying single
- Learn what Wellness resources can help make the breakup process easier
Better Bedtimes:
- Identify factors that impact sleep health and why sleep is important in college
- Discuss the value in having a sleep routine
- Create a personalized sleep routine to get better rest
Mindfulness for Sleep Health:
- A 3-session or 1-session workshop series designed to teach students relaxation and mindfulness practices
- Learn to relax and ease into a mindset that will promote rest
- Identify ways to incorporate restorative yoga postures into daily life
Eat, Sleep, Repeat: Sleep and Nutrition:
- Learn about nutrients that promote sleep health
- Learn ways to incorporate foods into diet that lead to more balance
- Create a balanced plate using Lowry dining hall hacks
Accessing Wellness Center Resources:
- Identify medical, counseling, and community health resources at the wellness center
- Learn how to make wellness appointments
- Access the student care center, a space with over-the-counter meds, giveaways, sexual health items, and other resources
- Learn about TimelyCare, Wooster’s telehealth service
As an important part of the office of community health promotion, Peer health educators promote wellness, plan events, collect data, and connect students to health-related resources.
Topics include:
- Alcohol Abuse Prevention and Education
- Effective Communication and Relationships
- Exercise and Nutrition
- Self-Compassion and Mental Health Promotion
- Sexual Health
- Sexual Respect
- Sleep Health
- Stress Management, Mental Health, and Suicide Prevention