Ignite Conversation on October 22nd

Health and Wellbeing is excited to highlight the intersectionality of wellbeing through Ignite, a new annual learning opportunity for all members of the campus community, offering tracks for faculty, staff, and students to explore wellbeing is infused throughout their lives. Over the course of the day, the intersectionality of wellbeing will spotlight a specific topic in the context of the socio-ecological model within educational breakout sessions, a robust resource fair, and culminating with a keynote speaker. This year the event will take place on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 from 2:00p-9:00p as we ignite the conversation about mental health in our community.

Ignite will conclude with a keynote presentation from Kevin Hines. Mr. Hines is a mental health advocate who started his advocacy work after jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge and surviving. He speaks to the ways his mental health is impacted by physical activity, his identity, relationships with others and his environment.

Learning Outcomes of Ignite 2019:
• Participants will engage in dialogue with their peers on mental health topics.
• Participants will describe at least one way in which their mental health is impacted by other aspects of their wellbeing.
• Participants will build self-efficacy, as they explore strategies to take ownership over their own health and wellbeing.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Engage in this day of learning featuring faculty, staff, and student tracks which are designed to explore the complexity of wellbeing and ignite the conversation about mental health in our community. Breakout sessions will be held from 2:00p-5:35p in KU.   

Student Sessions Include:

2:00 - 2:35pm

Belonging: Perspectives on building connections in the UD community

Students will be introduced to common ground principles on perspectives. Dialogue will be facilitated to engage students in conversation around inclusive practices; drawing on a relationship with belongingness and thriving. The goal is for participants to leave the session empowered to persist and thrive in the community, having identified an area of the UD campus community where they can make a connection and seek balance in their student experience.

Please Don’t Be Mad

A conversation exploring messages about anger that have been received from family and culture and how those messages (and resulting beliefs and behavior) impact mental health and wellbeing.

2:40 - 3:15pm

Introduction to Mindfulness for Wellbeing

This brief workshop will introduce students to the basic concepts of mindfulness and a few variants of mindfulness practice. Students will be given an overview of the evidence for mindfulness practice as a tool for promoting wellbeing and resilience to stress. The group will engage in a mindfulness exercise together, and time will be spent discussing the experience and how one might begin to cultivate a mindfulness practice.

The Complex Relationship between Alcohol and Mental Health

One reason people drink alcohol is to change their mood – but is this good for mental health? One of the main problems associated with using alcohol to cope with emotions or situations that may be difficult to manage, is that regular consumption of alcohol changes the chemistry of the brain. Through discussion of alcohol’s impact on mental health, participants will they explore strategies to take ownership over their own health and wellbeing.

Military Connected Students and Vet Center Resources 

*Students may attend this session but will not recieive PATH credit

UD Military and Veteran Programs and Services (MVPS) has partnered with the Dayton Vet Center to work towards expanding mental health outreach for military connected students.  Vet Center counselors are experts in working with veterans who have military combat or sexual trauma or related mental health concerns and can work with qualified family members under certain conditions. Knowledge of veteran issues and resources available helps strengthen our community!

3:30 - 4:05pm

The UD Step Care Model

The UD Step Care Model highlights the spectrum of resources from self-care to crisis response, promoting a holistic approach to mental health. This workshop will review the framework so participants can feel confident using the UD Step Care Model to get all members of the community the support they need to succeed and thrive.

Writing for Wellbeing

Writing for wellbeing will explore multiple strategies for reflection on and for your wellbeing. The session will practice some strategies and will allow participants time to share some of their own strategies.

4:10 - 4:45pm

It's Multidimensional: Exploring How Wellbeing and Identity are Interconnected

Each of us navigates this world with many dimensions of identity, and the ways in which we have to navigate the world has a profound impact on our wellbeing and mental health. This session will explore how systems come together to impact the wellbeing of individuals, including ourselves and those in our communities. Participants will identify ways they can impact their own mental health, as well as increasing their positive impact on the wellbeing of others.

The Nature RX Cure

Nature and its positive impact on wellbeing is trending and the headlines "Nature RX” and “The Nature Cure" are found in popular publications from the local park distributions to the New York Times. In this session, we will conduct a summary review of research and findings on the benefits of time in nature, identify campus and local resources for getting outdoors, and discuss how to further engage ourselves and our community in assessing the wellbeing benefits of nature. 

5:00 - 5:35pm

Reframing Reality: Leadership for the Common Good

Leadership for the Common Good requires attention to the wellbeing of self and others.  Join us as we explore a diverse array of strategies for developing self-care and resiliency both individually and in your team.  We will explore concepts of escaping and reframing reality from a lens of culturally relevant leadership. 

Supporting Survivors of Trauma and Campus Resources

Students exposed to traumatic experiences often must climb emotional and behavioral obstacles that can dramatically interfere with their ability to engage in the classroom, campus groups, or student organizations. This session will highlight how classmates and faculty/staff can implement simple strategies to make learning spaces trauma-informed for survivors. Participants will leave with an understanding of how to ensure all campus members feel safe to engage, but also with the knowledge of campus resources and community referrals available to trauma survivors.

Faculty/Staff Sessions Include:

2:00 - 2:35pm

Step Care Model

The UD Step Care Model highlights the spectrum of resources from self-care to crisis response, promoting a holistic approach to mental health. This workshop will review the framework so participants can feel confident using the UD Step Care Model to get all members of the community the support they need to succeed and thrive.

How Countering Unconscious Bias and Understanding Different Perspectives Leads to a Healthy Self

Our tendency as human beings is to create community among those who agree with us. Does this drive to look for homogeneity and similarity leads to a healthy self? Learn about how checking our biases and striving to understand diverse perspectives enrich our own selves. 

2:40 - 3:15pm

Supporting Students in Distress

Responding to a student when you observe they may be struggling can be confusing and overwhelming...let us help.  The Dean of Students Office is the primary advocate for students and creates a comprehensive student development experience to ensure student success.  This session will provide information related to prevention, intervention, and referral for students in distress and how to foster a healthy campus environment. 

Military Connected Students and Vet Center Resources 

*Students may attend this session but will not recieive PATH credit

UD Military and Veteran Programs and Services (MVPS) has partnered with the Dayton Vet Center to work towards expanding mental health outreach for military connected students.  Vet Center counselors are experts in working with veterans who have military combat or sexual trauma or related mental health concerns and can work with qualified family members under certain conditions. Knowledge of veteran issues and resources available helps strengthen our community!

3:30 - 4:05pm

Are the Aims of Mental Health Healthy?

I wish to engage the audience and listen to their views on mental health. Then after pooling some of their responses I wish to turn to the Afro-Caribbean philosopher Frantz Fanon and his critique of Western European approaches to mental health and offer a brief snapshot of what decolonizing mental health entails. 

Re-imagining Work/Life Balance and Wellbeing 

Is achieving work/life balance possible, or is it a myth that encourages unrealistic expectations? Pressure to manage competing demands in the workplace and in one's personal life have the capacity to negatively affect one's mental health. This session unpacks the term "work-life balance" and deconstructs its significance within the context of personal and organizational policies, as well as its potential harmful effects. Facilitators and participants will work together to share and develop tools, strategies and practices that support work/life wellbeing.  

4:10 - 4:45pm

Supporting Survivors of Trauma in the Classroom and Campus Resources

Students exposed to traumatic experiences often must climb emotional and behavioral obstacles that can dramatically interfere with their ability to engage in the classroom, campus groups, or student organizations. This session will highlight how classmates and faculty/staff can implement simple strategies to make learning spaces trauma-informed for survivors. Participants will leave with an understanding of how to ensure all campus members feel safe to engage, but also with the knowledge of campus resources and community referrals available to trauma survivors. 

An Overview of Mental Health First Aid (Will end at 5:35)

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an eight-hour training designed to give participants the skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. This overview course is a 90-minute overview session designed to provide an introduction to the course by  demonstrating how to recognize and respond to the warning signs and symptoms of a mental illness or emotional crisis.

5:00 - 5:35pm

It’s Multidimensional: Exploring How Wellbeing and Identity are Interconnected 

Each of us navigates this world with many dimensions of identity, and the ways in which we have to navigate the world has a profound impact on our wellbeing and mental health. This session will explore how systems come together to impact the wellbeing of individuals, including ourselves and those in our communities. Participants will identify ways they can impact their own mental health, as well as increasing their positive impact on the wellbeing of others.

RESOURCE FAIR

Come explore what mental health related resources exist at the University of Dayton and within the local community during the resource fair from 2:00p - 4:30p in the Torch Lounge.

For more information about the event please contact any of the following individuals:

Jen Brandt, Assistant Director, Fitness
Sarah DeWitt, Coordinator, Health Education and Wellbeing
Kristen Keen, Assistant Dean of Students and Director
Sarah Music, Coordinator, Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Education