On Nov. 19, Lakeland’s Counseling Services and Residence Life hosted the biannual Relaxation Vacation event at the E-Studio in the Campus Center. This is just one of many ways the counseling center encourages students to prioritize their mental health.
Alex Liosatos, LPC, Lakeland’s counseling center director and one of the counselors, said, “We create a space where students can come to do relaxing activities such as coloring, collage, meditation and yoga.” Relaxation Vacation also featured rock painting, light therapy lamps, shoulder massage devices, raffle prizes and aromapop (essential oil therapy).
Through events like Relaxation Vacation, the Counseling Center hopes to increase mental health awareness and “create a community of care,” Liosatos said, where Muskies feel competent to help peers in distress. Relaxation Vacation also exposed students to the counseling center staff and increased awareness about available services on and off campus.
The Counseling Center’s mission “is to provide holistic support to students as they develop emotionally, socially, academically, and spiritually, in accordance with Lakeland University’s mission and values.” Lakeland’s Counseling Services “strives to create an environment in which everyone can feel welcome and affirmed, no matter their unique backgrounds and beliefs.”
Students have access to counseling services at no cost. Although the Counseling Center cannot provide traditional counseling to Center/Online students, they can utilize the Lakeland University Support Initiative. LUSI, a peer support program, connects Center/Online students with a trained graduate assistant, either in-person or online. The current peer supporter, Sydney Walker, provides guidance from the perspective of a former Lakeland undergraduate student.
Walker also provides peer support for the Peers at Lakeland Sheboygan program. The PALS program is available to traditional undergraduate students at the Sheboygan campus.
Besides Relaxation Vacation, traditional counseling, LUSI and PALS, the counseling center offers several events and programs to promote mental well-being:
- Fresh Check Day, an annual mental health fair with student-staffed booths that teach about various aspects of mental health.
- Visits to Core I classes, where counselors equip first-year students with resources on supporting their peers through mental health crises.
- Pop-up informational tables, hosted by the peer supporter.
- Yoga classes, led by Jenny Tanck, a registered yoga teacher.
Lakeland also offers QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer) training, a free suicide prevention training that takes one hour to complete, either in-person or online. Liosatos serves as Lakeland’s qualified trainer. Students, faculty and staff have at least one opportunity a year to complete in-person training. The local Mental Health America chapter also offers virtual QPR training, held the second Wednesday of every month: https://mhalakeshore.dm.networkforgood.com/forms/monthly-virtual-qpr-suicide-awareness-training. In addition, any student group can arrange a training session with Liosatos as long as six or more participants sign up.
Since the pandemic, mental health awareness and crisis intervention have only become more important. In particular, Liosatos has seen a rise in social anxiety and loneliness since the pandemic.
“Loneliness is not always about lack of social connection,” she said. “It can also stem from difficulty in being vulnerable and open with other people. Some people are great listeners but not trusting or practiced enough in going deeper by sharing their own difficult thoughts and feelings.”
The counseling center gives students the chance to share those difficult thoughts in a nonjudgemental, confidential environment, whether through traditional counseling or other programs. “Students are encouraged to reach out to the counselors with any concern, no matter how small or large it may seem,” Liosatos said. “We look forward to meeting you!”
For any urgent matters, students can take advantage of several mental health emergency numbers:
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Anyone can call or text 988 for free at any time. Other languages are available; just say the language.
- Crisis or just struggling today? Text HELP to 741-741 for 24/7, free counseling help.
- Young BIPOC: text STEVE to 741-741.
- Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860.
- Local: 920-459-3151 (Mobile Crisis).
More information on the Lakeland Counseling Center and other resources can be found here: https://lakeland.edu/student-experience/health-and-counseling/counseling-services
