September 02, 2010

Wellness Center to host fall workshop series

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Wellness Center at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Student Health Center is hosting a series of fall workshops offering the latest information on a wide variety of health and well-being topics.

All of the free presentations will be in the Student Health Center Auditorium and the public is welcome. The workshops run the gamut from connecting with others to addiction recovery, tattoos to alcohol use, depression to gender violence.

The fall 2010 workshop schedule includes:

• Condom Sense, Sept. 7, 4 p.m. Learn how to reduce the risk of getting HIV, sexually transmitted diseases/infections or having unplanned pregnancies. Participants will learn about risk reduction and sexual decision-making communication skills.

• Recovery from Addiction, Sept. 16, 5 p.m. Discover how people learn to live without the use of substances, how recovery is a process and ways to make it happen.

• Getting Connected…Really! Sept. 20, noon. Find out ways to connect with the University community and how to avoid the common problems and situations associated with virtual connections like Facebook and other online activities.

• EveryBody’s Perfect, Sept. 29, 3 p.m. Media, culture, peers and other things can influence body image. This workshop explores those influences and the unrealistic expectations young people, in particular, have of their bodies as well as the drastic steps some take changing their bodies. Participants will also learn of the increase in body dissatisfaction among males and minorities.

• Ask a Question, Save a Life, Oct. 5, 4 p.m. Depression can strike anyone of any age. But, there are resources on campus to help. Learn about those resources and how suicide is preventable as you see how to identify signs of depression and how to respond.

• Male Priv-O-O-O-lege: How and Why Men Benefit from Being Men, Oct. 13, 5 p.m. This workshop explores the social and cultural costs that come with the common social, political, economic and cultural advantages men experience because they are male.

• Collegiate Alcohol Use, Oct. 18, 4 p.m. Even partying only on weekends or playing drinking games puts people at risk now and in the future. Find out how in this workshop.

• Inked, Oct. 27, 5 p.m. With the increasing popularity of tattoos and body art, discover how to get the best-looking body artwork while still maintaining uniqueness and individuality.

• Progressive Masculinities Mentors: A New Genderation of Men, Nov. 9, 4 p.m. This group discussion focuses on the “traditional man box” and how it leads to problematic behavior. See how the mentors and their stance against gender violence serve an important role on campus and in the community,

• FitNut U, Nov. 18, 5 p.m. Find out how a sedentary lifestyle and dining on convenience foods can have immediate and long-term health consequences and what you can do to eat better and live healthier.

• Responding to Campus Crises, Dec. 1., 3 p.m. As evidenced with hurricane Katrina, tornadoes, oil spills and incidents of violence, natural and manmade crises can happen anywhere. This workshop provides important safety information.

• Are You Positive You’re Negative, Dec. 1, 7 p.m. This event is a panel discussion about HIV/AIDS touching on the history, the disease and the future.

The Wellness Center also offers SIUC students confidential information and counseling for stress management, nutrition, substance abuse, violence prevention, sexual health and relationship violence. For more information about the 2010 fall workshops or other Wellness Center services and counseling, call 618/536-4441 or look online at www.shc.siuc.edu.