University launches health and wellness website

The new website was created to centralize campus resources and it contains tabs for eight dimensions of health and wellness for students to access. Photo by Chapman University.

In light of fall semester starting remotely, Chapman has launched a health and wellness website to offer students a centralized hub of resources that span across different departments and address the stressors students may experience both on and off campus. The website, which was launched during the second week of the academic year, contains tabs that cover eight dimensions of wellness. 

“It’s new, but I’m optimistic that it’s going to serve students well,” said Dean of Students Jerry Price. “This notion of having one place that students can go to see where they can go for help makes a lot of sense.”

The idea for an educational resource had long been discussed by the Chapman Board of Governors, with an initial focus on the issue of mental health before it expanded to include other areas. The website currently addresses a wide spectrum of health: mental, spiritual, financial, physical and social. It also compiles information on intellectual, environmental and occupational wellness.

Brie Byers, a junior English major and Resident Advisor (RA) at the Chapman Grand apartments, said she is excited about the potential the website holds to help her residents transition into college life amidst continuing COVID-19 concerns. 

“Because it’s harder to make friends online these online resources are a really good opportunity for (residents) to feel comfortable and maybe take that first step toward mental health, creating a new comfortability where they can talk about it with people,” Byers said.

Sravya Cherukuri, a Wellness intern at the Fish Interfaith Center believes the website will be effective in the coming months, particularly as the pandemic continues.

“I encourage all Chapman students to take a look at it,” said Cherukuri, a senior strategic and corporate communication major. “There’s some really cool resources and links they can read to keep their mind occupied and start adapting some new habits.”

Although Price is optimistic the website will help students, he is unsure how many students go to Chapman’s website for resources, he said. Nevertheless, with the increase in online activity that accompanies remote learning, he believes the time is ripe for such a resource to be made available.

“Students are feeling overwhelmed at Chapman, particularly, and at universities in general even pre-COVID,” he said. “There’s no doubt that students need (this resource) now more than ever.”