Bold Engagement Project Portfolio
by Marshall Brown
Theme I chose
The theme I chose for this project was health and well being on the topic of mental health for college students
VIDEO PRESENTATION IS AT THE END
Why I chose this theme
I choose the theme for mental health of college students as I believe it is a growing problem and one that everyone has experienced at one point whether its anxiety, depression, stress or something else and I also think it is a big issue that sometimes people like to avoid talking about because of the stigma behind mental health.
What I learned throughout this project about mental health
I learned a lot about many people experience stress and anxiety is different ways and that sometimes what may work for someone has zero affect on someone else. I also learned of the some of the activities people can do to help them feel better and what tools are available for anyone struggling.
Activities
The first set of activities I did were not only good for my mental health but also my physical health, the first one was going to the gym. I noticed with this one sometimes I didn't wanna go but I always felt great afterwards and it made me feel better. The next one was the walks and I would do the walks at a park near my house called the basin and getting the sun would not only raised my dopamine levels but also allowed me to get better sleep which is another factor for mental health. Finally I was eating a lot healthier which in return gave me more energy and allowed me to be more productive throughout the day.
Next activity I did was I watched a 30 minute documentary on youtube called "The student mental health crisis" and it was very insightful as it told the dangers of things like social media and how today there is more pressure then ever on kids and they are expected today more then ever to do their best. Overall the documentary was very informative and interesting.
The final activity I did was I did an interview with Levi Rex who is part of the wellness center at UTSA. I asked him the following questions and I will provide his answer below
1st Question: What are the biggest reasons college kids often struggle with mental health compared to other groups such as high school students or adults
Levi: "College students are trapped between two worlds, they are juggling lots of things like rent, social life and also exams, essays so for lots of students its a difficult time of transition and a lot of them don't know how to adapt"
2nd Question: "If someone is struggling with mental health what resources are available to them on campus"
Levi: "Wellness 360, wellness counseling center, student assistance services, we also have the mental health utsa peer advocated program which teaches about first aid, suicide prevention etc."
3rd Question: "What are some different activities someone who is struggling with mental health could do to feel better"
Levi "therapy is always really helpful, finding a support system, mindfulness, meditation, movement/exercise, walking your dog, walking around campus with friends, in some cases medication may be required, also things like yoga, journaling and art can all be very helpful with someone who is struggling"
4th and final question: "Often times people want help when they are struggling with mental health but they are too scared to reach out to family and friends, what advice would you give to those who are too afraid to each out"
Levi: "A lot of people think that if I talk to a family member or friend they will think less of me but thats not the case as family and friends do care about us and they want to know when we are struggling. The hardest part is reaching out and once someone does that the worst is over"
Sources
Below are the sources that helped with my research and further elaborated why a group like college students can be struggling with mental health.
“College Students and Depression.” Mayo Clinic Health System, 31 May 2023, www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/college-students-and-depression.
“Why Depression Hits Different in College: BestColleges.” BestColleges.Com, 16 May 2022, www.bestcolleges.com/blog/why-depression-hits-different-college/.
“Depression in College Students: New Statistics and Research.” Newport Institute, 10 Jan. 2023, www.newportinstitute.com/resources/mental-health/depression-on-college-campuses/.
What Could I have done better?
Overall I think my progress was overall good I was unable to find any on campus events which is something I'd say I would try to achieve in my bold engagement plan but besides that I am satisfied with the other things I did such as the exercise and the interview with Levi Rex.
Reflection
Overall I learned a lot about mental health such as why people struggle when are transitioning to a time like college, I also learned about the different things someone can do if they are ever feeling down and that there is no shame to reaching out to family and friends as they all care and want the best for you.
