From flu shots to mental health workshops, CSUSB’s annual event introduced students to support available throughout the year.
Glow-in-the-dark condoms and human-sized dog beds might seem like an unusual pairing, or maybe not, but both had a place in conversations about student wellness at CSUSB’s Halloween Health Clinic on Oct. 27.
Hosted by the Student Health Center at the Alumni Center, the clinic brought campus departments together to connect students with physical health services, mental health support and safety resources. Halloween activities and giveaways offered an opening for students to learn where they could find help long after the event ended.
Organizer Melissa Acuna said the clinic was designed to help students discover the range of support available on campus while giving them a chance to unwind.
Stephen Day
Acuna said that she hoped the event would help students get to know the campus, and the departments available to help them, a little better.
All different facets of health and wellness, just to bring students together, educate them on the different departments, get some information, and do some fun activities.
That goal extended to helping students stay safe during Halloween parties and other celebrations.
At the reproductive health table, Student Health Center representatives quizzed students on their knowledge and used unfamiliar questions as opportunities to teach. They also distributed supplies, including glow-in-the-dark condoms, latex-free options, dental dams and internal condoms.
Representatives said access to those resources continued beyond the event. Students could visit the Student Health Center to pick up sexual health supplies throughout the year.
Stephen Day
The clinic also offered flu shots. Student Health Center representative Diamond Matthews discussed the vaccinations, while a pharmacist highlighted the center’s on-site pharmacy and lower-priced medications.
The representatives also said students could fill prescriptions from clinic visits. Both students and staff could also purchase over-the-counter products, including COVID tests for $3, a service she said many staff members did not know was available.
Mental health outreach offered another way for students to connect with support. Counseling and Psychological Services, known as CAPS, shared information alongside notebooks, fidgets and highlighters.
CAPS representative Claire Craddick said licensed therapists were available to speak with students. Craddick also highlighted regular workshops as a place for students who might not be ready for individual therapy but want to learn about mental health and make connections with others.
Representatives from The Retreat described a campus space where students could take a break between their other commitments. Its offerings include massages, hammocks, a lounge and human-sized dog beds.
The beds are for students to curl up in, representatives explained. Both the beds and massages require reservations, but students can drop in to use the lounge. Hammocks are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Stephen Day
The event’s definition of wellness also included zooming around campus safely.
Ryan Hagen, from Parking and Transportation, discussed a safety campaign focused on scooters, bicycles and other wheeled devices. He said incidents on other campuses and close calls at CSUSB prompted efforts to educate students about where and how to ride safely.
A bicycle helmet and bike locks, as well as other swag items, were prizes available for their raffle and they hoped to encourage riders to protect themselves and secure their equipment.
Therapy dogs were also scheduled to be a part of the experience, although they arrived fashionably late, allowing students to destress with a little puppy love.
For Acuna, the event combined practical information with an opportunity to relax and enjoy the season. The Halloween activities helped introduce students to resources they could return to whenever they needed support.
