Anxiety has become an increasingly prevalent issue in young people, especially college students. It has recently passed depression as “the leading mental health issue among college students.”
It is estimated that approximately 1 in 5 college students has had anxiety that affected their academic performance in the past year. College students are especially susceptible to large amounts of stress and worry throughout the year. Although not all students deal with anxiety, many students experience stress and worry both academically and socially.
Northwestern has made some recent changes in order to try and help students and the rise of anxiety. NW has professional counseling services available to students and has recently added a relaxation room. This room is located in the wellness center and is available for all students starting Monday, Sept. 17.
The room is equipped with a desk, couch, chairs and a full body massage chair. The idea behind this room is to give students a quiet place to relax and be mindful for 30 minutes. With the constant stress of schoolwork, athletics, extracurriculars and a social life, it may be difficult to find the time or place for a half hour to yourself.
The goal of this relaxation room is to provide a resource for students who may be experiencing anxiety or just need a space to relax and be alone. This room is an added resource to students in order to promote wellness and help cope with stress. Massages have shown to help with stress and anxiety and decrease heart rate and blood pressure.
With the rates of anxiety increasing every year, it is important to take steps towards being heathier and being able to cope well. This room is not purely for students who suffer from anxiety; rather, it is a place for all students who are in need and could benefit from a quiet and relaxing environment with no interruptions. Despite having demanding schedules and obligations, many students can benefit from the relaxation room.
Massage has proven to be particularly helpful for those who experience depression and anxiety and is a resource that should be utilized by any student who is in need. The massage chair has pre-set massages and can be adjusted to your preferences. Bluetooth is also available (for listening to the new Ariana Grande album) to enhance your relaxation experience.
The relaxation room will be available from 1:00-3:30 p.m. on weekdays to all students and can be reserved by emailing wellness@nwciowa.edu or by visiting the wellness center. The Wellness Center is also open to hearing suggestions about how to improve the relaxation room and any feedback that students have. Feel free to email the wellness center with any further questions,
