Halloween Safety for College Students

Above image: Collegeville masks from 1981 (via Plaid Stallions).

Halloween is a good time to have fun, but since it's on a Wednesday this year, we've got some tips for you to follow to make sure you can get to work/school the next day. Not to be a buzz kill, but we don't want to see you in the clinic on November 1st for a Halloween related accident, and we really don't want you to end up in the hospital. 

1. DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE! This is a no brainer, so don't get behind the wheel drunk or get into a car with a drunk driver. Even if your friend says they are okay to drive, call a cab or find a designated driver. Getting a cab is much cheaper than getting a ticket. Robert DeBry & Associates offers cab ride reimbursement on holidays! You can learn more about that here. http://www.robertdebry.com/free-ride.php It's also a good idea to drive extra cautiously to watch for trick-or-treaters. 

2. DRINK RESPONSIBLY. If you are going to drink, don't over do it. Know your limits, if you can't stand or you're seeing double, that's probably a good indicator that you should stop.  Trying to keep track of how many drinks you've had is also a good way to find out what your limits are. It is recommended that you drink no more than one drink per hour. And remember, don't drink on an empty stomach and make sure you drink plenty of water. 

3. MAKE SURE YOUR COSTUME IS FUNCTIONAL. Don't wear heels if you can't walk in heels. Be sure that you wan walk in your costume with out tripping or falling. Make sure you can breathe and see if you're wearing a mask. Try out your face-paint or make-up on a small area of skin before applying it to your whole face to avoid getting an unsightly rash. 

Tobacco Free Campus Policy

There are over 49,000 deaths in the US among adult non-smokers as a result of second hand smoke, according to the National Cancer Institute.  So how does this affect Salt Lake Community College?

SLCC is in the developmental process of implementing a Tobacco free campus to insure the health and wellness of each and every student.

“Currently, the tobacco policy on campus is supporting the Utah Indoor Clean Air Act, so by state law you can’t smoke within 25-feet of a doorway or an open window,” said Peter Moosman.  “It’s really hard to enforce, so the policy that we are proposing is a tobacco free campus policy.”

Going through the process of making this policy, the Health and Wellness Department went through several loopholes that prevented them from progressing forward.  

The Health and Wellness Department had conflicts with discrimination against smokers, taking away smokers rights and how they were going to enforce the policy.  

“Smokers as a group have no rights as smokers.  You don’t have the right to go into a public place and expose others to toxic chemicals,” said Peter Moosman.

In a survey done in fall of 2011, the Health and Wellness Department at SLCC showed that 86 percent of students believe that secondhand smoke is either extremely or very harmful.  

More than 7,000 chemicals are identified in secondhand smoke alone and cause approximately 69 types of cancer, according to the National Cancer Institution.

“People that do have rights are those with Asthma and Respiratory issues.  They are protected under the American Disabilities Act and so we as a college have a responsibility to protect those students by law,” said Moosman.

SLCC isn’t taking away the smokers right to smoke but simply asking them to leave the campus to the nearest public sidewalk to not expose the toxic chemicals to other students on campus.

Another idea that was brought up instead of completely getting rid of tobacco was to implement a designated smoking station.  The Health and Wellness Department worked out maps to see what still complied with the 25-feet rule but the only places were small pockets and tended to be high traffic areas.

“Looking into the designated smoking areas wasn’t very effective because of our campus being so small in order to walk to one smoking station, you could probably walk another direction to a public street,” said Moosman.

Also considering the current policy, there is no designated line telling you where 25-feet is.  The same issue can occur with the designated smoking station.  Where can you define the line for the designated smoking station?

With the new tobacco policy currently going through a feedback process, this policy won’t be going into effect until Aug. 1, 2013, the start of the next school year.  If everything goes as planned and it is approved by the vice president of student services, they plan to take it to the cabinet and begin to enforce the policy by next year.  For more information, visit the Taylorsville Redwood Student Center Building and talk with the Health and Wellness Department or visit their website at slcc.edu/hw.

By Nichole Steinfeldt

Cold & Flu Giftbasket Giveaway

It's time for another gift basket giveaway! This basket is a cold and flu prevention and care package, that includes: soup, cough drops, vitamin c, tissues, hand sanitizer, and a bunch of other goodies!  

To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below. Make sure you comment on the blog post or you will be disqualified! The giveaway will end on Monday, November 12, and we will announce the winner on Tuesday, November 13. Please be aware that you must be a currently enrolled student at Salt Lake Community College to win. Good Luck! And don't forget to check back here every Tuesday for our awesome posts! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mental Health Screening

October brings around Mental Illness Awareness Week, a week that is dedicated to helping the general public better understand and treat mental health concerns, especially depression.  Why is this week important?  Mental Health America estimates that one in four women and one in ten men in the United States will experience depression at one point in their lives.  Depression can affect anyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or age.  It can also be a very serious illness, with decreased daily functioning, negatively affecting work and school performance, in addition to personal relationships, and even suicide as possible by-products.

With these significant risks in mind, it is important to understand the difference between “feeling blue” and depression.  The National Institute of Mental Health states that everyone has feelings of sadness, but that those feelings normally go away in a few days.  Depression, however, is when those feelings do not go away, when a person feels sad or empty most of the day for at least two weeks and loses interest in things they normally enjoy.  Other typical symptoms of depression include disturbed sleep (sleeping too little or too much), irritability or agitation, loss of energy, disturbed appetite (eating more or less than usual, leading to weight gain or loss), difficulty concentrating, and thoughts of death or suicide.

Sound familiar?   Worried that you or someone you know may be experiencing depression?  The SLCC Health and Wellness Center can help.  On Thursday, October 25, the Health and Wellness team will provide free depression screening at the Student Center from 11 am – 1 pm.  Can’t make the screening or just want to talk to someone about how you’re feeling?  The Health and Wellness Center provides individual and group counseling services, including a free mental health assessment.  Take that first step towards a healthier, happier future and call for an appointment today.

Guest Post - Disability Resource Center

The Disability Resource Center is pleased to announce Disability Awareness Week! These events are cosponsored by Arts & Cultural Events, Student Life and Leadership, the Speaker’s Bureau, and FTLC.  Here is a breakdown of the various activities:

Monday, 10/29—Student Voice Project

                11:30-1:00, Student Event Center, Redwood Campus

SLCC Students with disabilities will present an informal panel discussion to share their experiences in our community. Free pizza for all who attend!

Tuesday, 10/30—Musician Jeremiah Maxey

                11:30-1:00, Jordan campus

Jeremiah Maxey is a local guitarist with one arm. Come enjoy some music between classes! Check him out at the following site: http://www.reverbnation.com/jeremiahmaxey

Wednesday, 10/31—Musician Jeremiah Maxey

                11:30-1:00, East Entrance, South City Campus

Jeremiah Maxey is a local guitarist with one arm. Come enjoy some music between classes! Check him out at the following site: http://www.reverbnation.com/jeremiahmaxey

Thursday, 11/1—Free Movie “Music Within” followed by Keynote Speaker, Dr. Richard Pimentel

10:30-12:00, Oak Room, Redwood Campus—Free Movie “Music Within” http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0422783/

12:00-1:00, Oak Room, Redwood Campus—Dr. Richard Pimentel, Keynote speaker for Disability Awareness Week

Dr. Richard Pimentel is a nationally renowned expert on Disability, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Attitude Change. He is an exceptional communicator whose audiences praise his ability to combine information, humor, metaphor, analogy and storytelling into an informative whole that does not just present the information, but really communicates it in a memorable fashion.

The movie Music Within is based on his life story. Richard is a brilliant public speaker with a troubled past, who returns from Vietnam Hard of Hearing and finds a new purpose in his landmark efforts on the behalf of Americans with disabilities.

By: Candida Darling - Director of the Disability Resource Center

Once a Bully, Always a Bully

Whether you are pushed down the stairs, made fun of for your race or constantly receiving put-downs on a social networking site, these are all forms of bullying and they cannot be left unnoticed.

Though most people think bullying stays in grade school, Cyber Bullying Goes to College by Caleb Daniloff proves that bullying continues after high school and is more commonly seen in cases of cyber bullying.

Cyber bullying consists of insults, name calling, and threats of sexual or physical harm.  And though we are now talking about a college level, peer pressure still exists. 

You can see cyber bullying on social networking sites, emails, chat rooms, instant messages and text messages. Because of continual growth in technology, more ways to be cyber bullied are coming up. 

If you feel threatened by someone over the Internet or even on campus, you shouldn’t leave it left unnoticed.  Occasionally cyber bullying can escalate at the college.  You should get rid of the source of bullying and ask someone for help. 

Whether it’s cyber bullying or someone is physically harming or verbally harming you, never leave it unnoticed.  If you are a parent and notice your child is being cyber bullied, don’t leave your child unattended but get rid of the problem by getting rid of the social networking program or block the bullies number.

-Nicole Steinfeldt SHAC student

Mental Health - Let Us Help

Yahoo!  You have finally made it into college and are full of excitement about the wonderful possibilities that await you.  The future looks bright and the world is your oyster.  The doors have been blown open to a seemingly limitless array of positive new adventures: new friends, new knowledge, new romance, new fun, new career, or even the shaping of a new personal identity.  Success is there for the taking!

But things do not always go according to plan.  Or at least, not how you thought they were supposed to go.  And while college is undoubtedly a time when many hopes and dreams are fulfilled, just as commonly, it is a time of having to face up to various disappointments and limitations.  Ouch. 

So, career choices may need to be reconsidered due to lower than expected grades.  Friendships and romantic relationships may end due to betrayal or insurmountable conflicts.  Despite your best efforts, it might be hard to find a job.  And, instead of finding yourself, you may become more confused about who you are and what you want to do.

At such times, you may end up feeling overly discouraged, stressed, overwhelmed or lost.  It might feel harder to cope and you might feel like giving up.  Maybe you find yourself drinking more, or experimenting with drugs.  Or you might find that in many ways you just do not feel like your normal self, or that your emotions feel out of control.  Rest assured that you are not going crazy.  But, you might be suffering from significant depression, anxiety or other mental health symptoms. 

This may be a scary new experience, or one you have dealt with in the past.  In either case, you are not alone.  A recent national survey of college students conducted by the American College Health Association found that at least once during the school year, 93% of students felt overwhelmed, 91% felt exhausted, 79% felt sad, 63% felt hopeless, and 45% felt so depressed that it was difficult to function.

Unfortunately, data also show that many college students who are distressed do not seek counseling or support from others.  Oftentimes this is due to the common, but erroneous, myth that anyone with mental health struggles is defective or weak or crazy.  Actually, the truth is just the opposite.  Those who decide to seek counseling show thereby that they possess good self-awareness, decision making and courage in getting the help that they need.

Besides, counseling helps.  Research shows that the majority of people who receive counseling improve to some extent, and much faster than if they tried to handle things on their own?  So why continue to suffering unnecessarily?  If you find yourself struggling, consider making an appointment to see one of our professional counselors at Health and Wellness Services as soon as possible.  It may end of being one of the best experiences of your college career.

By: Scott Kadera - psychologist