{"id":210632,"date":"2024-08-26T16:32:21","date_gmt":"2024-08-26T20:32:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/arts\/?p=210632"},"modified":"2024-08-26T16:32:21","modified_gmt":"2024-08-26T20:32:21","slug":"montclair-enhances-mental-health-support-with-new-zen-dens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/arts\/2024\/08\/26\/montclair-enhances-mental-health-support-with-new-zen-dens\/","title":{"rendered":"Montclair Enhances Mental Health Support with New Zen Dens"},"content":{"rendered":"

As Montclair State University prepares for the new academic year, it\u2019s placing a strong emphasis on student mental health. The university has a comprehensive approach, offering resources ranging from traditional counseling to pet therapy. This year, Montclair is introducing new \u201cZen Dens\u201d to provide students with spaces to relax and de-stress.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlong with the excitement of returning to school, there\u2019s a lot of anxiety,\u201d says Donna Scro Samori, a social worker and wellness coordinator for the Department of Theatre and Dance, where she is also an adjunct faculty member. \u201cStudents struggle with adjusting to the independence of college living and trying to figure out where to get the resources they need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two years ago, Scro Samori transformed a dingy back office in Life Hall into a space for meditation, complete with aromatherapy, dim lighting and calming music to help students recharge both body and mind between classes.<\/p>\n

\"Zen
The Zen Den in Life Hall is being modeled across campus as a safe space to help students achieve better mental health.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Theatre\/Dance Den Zen Becomes a Model for Campus<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cI envisioned students meditating there, but often they come in to nap,\u201d says Scro Samori. \u201cThey use the meditation cushions as pillows and wrap themselves in blankets. That\u2019s what they need \u2014 rest and time to disconnect from their devices.\u201d Last year, the Zen Den saw between 12 and 20 students daily.<\/p>\n

Life Hall\u2019s peaceful oasis on a busy campus has inspired student leaders to raise funds for more relaxation spaces in the Student Center and academic buildings across the university.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Zen Den is a place where I would live if I could,\u201d says Student Government Association President Mikayla Houston, a senior Psychology major. \u201cYou just walk in on your own time and reset by yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why College Campuses Need Zen Dens<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The need is real. According to the Mayo Clinic, up to 44% of college students nationwide report symptoms of depression and anxiety.<\/p>\n

At Montclair, the\u00a0Crisis, Assessment, Response, and Education (CARE) Team<\/a>, a group of administrators who meet regularly to evaluate concerning behaviors and mental health struggles, has seen a 15% increase in case referrals each year since 2020.<\/p>\n

We must remember that many\u00a0students were impacted by the pandemic<\/a>\u00a0during critical developmental years,\u201d says Scro Samori. \u201cI see students struggling with independence and adjusting to college life.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Balancing school, work, and family, paying for tuition and living expenses, and uncertainty about future careers are among the challenges.<\/p>\n

Montclair\u2019s Comprehensive Wellness Approach\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A culture of wellness is ingrained in campus life. Montclair embraces various approaches, including group therapy, peer counseling, telehealth, arts and crafts, meditation events, and pet therapy to help students de-stress. The\u00a0Office of Student Belonging<\/a>\u00a0focuses on vulnerable groups that research shows need additional support to fully engage in college life.<\/p>\n

Faculty and staff are also trained to identify students in distress, with a\u00a0CARE Report<\/a>\u00a0form connecting them to mental health support.<\/p>\n

\u201cCreating Zen Dens on campus reflects our commitment to supporting the holistic well-being of our students,\u201d says Vice President for Student Development and Campus Life, Dawn Meza Soufleris. \u201cThese quiet spaces provide a sanctuary for students to find peace, regroup, and nurture their mental health, ensuring they have the resources to thrive academically and personally.\u201d<\/p>\n

Make a Gift:<\/a>\u00a0Donations are being accepted until Friday, August 30.<\/p>\n

Check out photos from the Zen Den to see more of these relaxing places.<\/a><\/p>\n

If you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988, the nationwide\u00a0988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for<\/a>\u00a0free, confidential support, 24\/7.<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019m a ______, tell me more\u2026<\/h2>\n

Prospective Student \/ Parent:<\/strong>\u00a0Learn more about how Montclair makes\u00a0mental well-being a campus priority<\/a>; make a\u00a0gift to the Zen Den project<\/a>;\u00a0plan a visit to our campus<\/a>\u00a0and take the first step in\u00a0applying to become a Red Hawk<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Journalist:<\/strong>\u00a0Contact the\u00a0Media Relations team<\/a>\u00a0for assets or to schedule an interview about this topic. See our\u00a0Faculty Experts<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0hi-res media assets<\/a>\u00a0available for download.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Montclair State University is strengthening its commitment to student mental health by introducing Zen Dens \u2014 dedicated spaces for relaxation and de-stressing. These new additions complement existing resources like counseling services, pet therapy and wellness programs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":210633,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-210632","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-and-announcements","category-190_theatre-dance"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/arts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210632","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/arts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/arts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/arts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/arts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=210632"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/arts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210632\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":210634,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/arts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210632\/revisions\/210634"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/arts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/210633"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/arts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=210632"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/arts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=210632"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/arts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=210632"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}