Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website

St. John’s University demonstrated its commitment to student wellness on September 19 at the annual Student Wellness Fair held on the D’Angelo Center plaza. Representatives from various campus departments and organizations presented resources aimed at enhancing students' mental and physical well-being.

Hundreds of students attended the fair, discovering resources for counseling, physical wellness, spiritual development, sexual-violence prevention, career guidance, and more. Campus organizations highlighted the root causes of mental health crises, providing education and support.

The Division of Student Success aims to offer a network of communities that promote mental health and holistic development as students navigate the challenges of a new school year.

Jonathan W. Dator, Ph.D., MSCP, CGP, Director of Counseling and Psychological Services within the Office of Student Success, emphasized the University's dedication to assisting students in all areas of personal wellness. “We want our students to know that we have these services on campus,” Dr. Dator said. “Here you can get a flu shot, go see someone for counseling, and even take a yoga class, all in one place.”

Phillip Calles, a first-year Interdisciplinary Business student at The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, noted that the University's efforts provided him with peace of mind.

The Office of Wellness Education and Prevention Services was among the represented organizations. Megan Johnson, Associate Director of Student Wellness, stressed suicide-prevention awareness and healthy lifestyle promotion. In collaboration with the Office of Student Success, Ms. Johnson coordinates events throughout the school year including student orientation sessions and individual counseling.

“The department tries to create a holistic approach to student mental health,” Ms. Johnson said. “We want students to know it is OK to ask for help.”

Ms. Johnson’s office also organizes an annual Suicide Prevention Walk in spring and a Wellness Week near midterm exams focused on stress mitigation.

Interactive presentations were conducted by other representatives from the Office of Student Success. Jason Luchs, Associate Director of Disability Services, led a presentation on personal resilience where students documented their challenges and how they overcame them.

Danielle DiNapoli, Director of Violence Prevention, discussed yoga's benefits for mindfulness training with interested students. “Yoga provides you a space where all you have to think about in that moment is what you are doing,” Ms. DiNapoli said.

Carley Jermaine from the Office of Residence Life led a presentation on anxiety and depression using mask-making as an exercise to address emotional burdens.

Juliana Bracco ’24TCB from University Career Services works primarily with first-year students guiding them through classes and professional goals while addressing issues like imposter syndrome which can cause significant anxiety among students.

“For students it’s a difficult transition period,” Juliana said. “Students suffering from imposter syndrome feel like they do not belong or deserve to be in college.” She added that it is important for these students to remember their achievements despite their anxieties.