Mental Health Matters at McKendree
October at McKendree University is a magical time. As the chilly winds of autumn usher in an array of gold, russet, and ruby in the trees that adorn campus, Bearcats near and far gear up to celebrate Homecoming each year. Campus is buzzing with activity as students rehearse for the fall play, challenge one another to friendly pool and cornhole tournaments, perform before their friends and family in music ensembles on the Hett stage, and become more deeply involved with all of their favorite student organizations. October also means it's time for mid-terms, which can be often weigh heavily on students.
For the past few years, McKendree has responded to these pressures by hosting a special event, Mental Health Matters, which occurs one week before each semester’s mid-terms. This event offers our Bearcats a much-needed pause in the flurry of activity and an opportunity for them to focus on their mental well-being. Sponsored by several organizations on campus, including the School of Education, Division of Social Sciences, Student Government Association, Counseling Services, and more, Mental Health Matters constantly gives students not only a break but also valuable tools and skills to help them successfully navigate the challenges of life.
“All My Sad Feelings? Gone!”: Mental Health Matters is the G.O.A.T.
If you were to take a quick trip to the Quad on Wednesday, Oct. 8, you’d be greeted with an unusual but welcomed sight: students giggling and playing with goats inside of a large fenced-in area. As many students followed yoga instructor and McKendree alumna Jennifer (Gann) Hoppes in their vinyasas and stretched it out, goats wandered the pen, ambling in between students, munching on grass, and occasionally hopping gently on Bearcats’ backs as they inhaled peace and exhaled stress. Observing students gingerly picked up nearby goats to pet, cuddle, and hold them as smiles played upon their faces in the sunlight. Loose shoulders, crinkled eyes, and peals of laughter greeted every camera and smartphone as students took selfies and photos with one another.
With overheard comments including, “Oh, my goat, this is the best day of my life!” and “All my sad feelings? Gone!” it’s easy to see why goat yoga turned out to be such a hit.
This event couldn’t have been made possible without the help of Dr. Darryn Diuguid, an education professor at McKendree, who has recently been stressing the importance of mindfulness with his students in the hopes that they will take that calmness into their future classrooms. He thought that Southern Illinois Goat Yoga would be a perfect way to help students unwind during the event and introduce more calmness – and joy – into their busy lives.
“When I came up to Holman Library that day, I saw a big group of students around the fence playing with the goats,” Dr. Diuguid said. “Everyone was holding goats with smiles on their faces, and they got to relax for one full hour with yoga sessions starting every ten minutes. The students were completely immersed in the moment. Judging by the feedback I received, they would love to see goat yoga return in the future.”
Cultivating a Culture of Care
Beyond the Quad, students also took a trip to the second floor of Holman Library to learn more about mental health, self-care, and how to handle the challenges they’ll face in life. Upon arrival, each student took a Mental Health Matters passport, which encouraged students to visit a wide range of booths that offered information, resources, support, and often free goodies like tea packets and honey straws. After students collected initials at each booth, they filled out their passports for a chance to win mental health-focused prizes, including stress-relief kits and wellness baskets.
In all, the event aimed to promote ongoing mental health conversations across campus and reduce the stigma around mental health struggles, reinforcing the idea that asking for help isn’t just okay – it’s also necessary.
“We know that students struggle at this time of year. They’re missing home, dealing with sleep issues, and are often neglecting their own well-being. This event gave them the time and space to focus on their mental health and learn positive coping skills,” said Melissa McHenry, director of counseling services at McKendree University.
One of the event’s most powerful takeaways was the visible support from faculty and staff. It’s easy for students to feel isolated in their struggles, but seeing their professors and staff members participating in the event sends a clear message that they are not alone.
“We want our students to know that we as faculty and staff go through many of the same things that they do,” Dr. Diuguid said. “I often tell my students that I’m practicing grace and extend an assignment’s due date because I, too, am on the struggle bus and am navigating through stress. I want them to know that we’re all in this together.”
Lending a Helping Hand Through Counseling Services
While Mental Health Matters offered a pleasant pause in the semester, McKendree’s commitment to student mental health extends far beyond one day on the calendar. The university’s counseling services continues to serve as a safe space, welcoming students to seek guidance, learn healthy coping skills, and develop the perseverance they need to flourish, both inside and outside the classroom.
“Our goal for this event was to equip students with positive coping skills they can use to improve their mental health,” said Melissa. “Events like Mental Health Matters help reduce the stigma that has surrounded mental health by normalizing the struggle and encouraging students to reach out for support. When our faculty, staff, and coaches actively promote these types of conversations, it reinforces the idea that taking care of your mental health is just as important as your physical health.”
Free to all enrolled students, McKendree’s Counseling Services offers comprehensive, confidential counseling by licensed professional clinical staff members. Not only that, McKendree has also partnered with TimelyCare, higher education’s most trusted virtual health and well-being provider, to offer students free and equitable access to mental health support, self-care modules, basic needs assistance, and more – 24/7. With just a few taps on their phones, students can now select from a wide-ranging menu of virtual care options from licensed counselors at any time of the day or night, at no cost, and without the barrier of traditional insurance.
It's just one of the many ways that McKendree shows up for its students: proving that mental health matters – always.
