Correction: The article said that the “Check Yourself” event is held once every semester. It should have said that “Check Yourself” was held one time only in support of National Depression Screening Day. CAPS will hold another event in April, but it will not be the same as “Check Yourself.”
It’s easy for many Cal State Long Beach students to crash and burn mid-semester because of stressors like rising tuition, classes, homework, midterms and part-times jobs.
However, Counseling and Psychological Services and Project OCEAN inspired students with ways to destress yesterday.
Project OCEAN held the “Check Yourself” event on the South West Terrace of the University Student Union to raise awareness for mental health and to promote healthy coping strategies for students feeling stressed or depressed.
Midterms are just one reason for stress, according to Edith Aravalo, one of the organizers for the event and a graduate student in social work. She attributes stress to pressures involving family, finances, being a freshman and being a first generation student.
The event gave students the opportunity to learn how to unwind by presenting different exercises to reduce their stress. Students made their own stress balls, popped bubble wrap, finger painted and Zumba danced.
Matthew Lujan, a political science major, said he liked the activities provided at the event.
“Many things here, you do in kindergarten, and it was nostalgic, which can help,” Lujan said. “And it is unusual.”
Crystal Vartanian, a graduate marital and family therapy student volunteering at the event, said that popping bubble wrap could be a physical release.
“Popping the bubbles is supposed to release stress; it’s an outlet,” Vartanian said.
Participants in the bubble wrapping station wrote their frustrations on top of the bubbles and then popped them. This was a way for them to release some of the stress involved with the associated subject, Vartanian said.
Project OCEAN aims to help students find a balance by giving them advice, Jennifer Young, Project OCEAN coordinator and a licensed psychologist, said. She suggested a few stress relief options, such as having movie nights, going to the gym or simply spending time with friends.
“Exercise helps reduce stress, anxiety and depression,” Young said.
Young said many people don’t like to talk about their emotions, but she wants to change that.
CAPS and Project OCEAN will hold another mental awareness event in April.