During National Suicide Prevention Week, Elizabethtown College took initiative and taught students about environmental wellness by taking a nature walk around Lake Placida.
National Suicide Prevention Week is a week-long campaign during National Suicide Prevention Month used to create awareness and inform the public of the warning signs of suicide. This is a time for mental health advocates, health officials, survivors and prevention organizations to join together to promote awareness.
The nature walk explored different parts of campus where students can go to relax. Different wildlife that can be seen around campus was explored too.
Assistant Director of Health Promotion Joni Eisenhauer along with senior environmental science major Riley Moore led the nature walk. Eisenhauer noted that the places mentioned on campus were “another outlet where students can destress.” Instead of students laying in bed and watching TikToks after a long day of classes, these places give them more options.
A few sites mentioned during the nature walk where students can destress were: Lake Placida for turtle watching, by the PawPaw trees for a tasty snack, the Gazebo overlooking Lake Placida and any grassy area where grounding exercises can be done.
During the nature walk, Moore stopped multiple times to point out different wildlife that students can see around campus. Moore saved a worm from the hot sun, pointed out multiple turtles sunbathing in Lake Placida and told students all about PawPaw trees.
The nature walk concluded at the gazebo where Eisenhauer gave everyone in the group Chex Mix and granola bars while explaining grounding exercises.
Grounding exercises are to be done with no shoes on to be one with nature. Eisenhauer explained how grounding exercises and environmental wellness became very popular during COVID-19 lockdowns. These grounding exercises are another way for students to get outside and destress.
Both Moore and Eisenhauer concluded that the outdoors are “an accessible thing for anyone.” There’s many outdoor spots on campus for students to enjoy nature and destress.
