State of Wellbeing, a podcast from South Dakota State University

Art and Wellbeing

Donna Merkt, Director of the South Dakota Art Museum, shares insights into how art supports emotional, mental, and social wellness. The episode underscores how art—whether through creation, observation, or conversation—can contribute to individual wellbeing, strengthen social connections, and enrich campus and community life. 
Student Learning Outcomes:
1. Students will be able to identify and describe the ways in which art positively contributes to emotional, mental, and social wellbeing.
2. Students will demonstrate practical ways to incorporate art into their lives as a means to promote personal wellbeing.
3. Students will reflect on how art serves as a tool for self-expression, processing emotions, and building social connections across diverse communities.
 
Processing Questions:
1. What are some of the key ways that art contributes to emotional and mental wellbeing? Can you think of examples from your own life where art has had a similar effect?
2. How does art help build a sense of community and connection among people? Can you think of any examples of public art or museum spaces where this happens?
3. Based on the podcast, what new practices or habits might you explore to integrate art into your personal wellbeing routine?

Red Folder: A Guide for Faculty and Staff to Recognize, Respond and Refer a Troubled Student

In this episode of State of Wellbeing, host Teresa Seefeldt, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education at South Dakota State University, is joined by Dean of Students, Toby Uecker. Together, they explore the "Red Folder" resource, a practical tool designed to assist faculty and staff in recognizing, responding to, and referring students in distress. Toby shares valuable tips on navigating challenging conversations with students, addressing mental health concerns, and building rapport. The discussion also highlights additional training opportunities, such as QPR, and the role of campus resources in supporting the wellbeing of the SDSU community.

Thriving Through Challenges: Building Resilience and Success in College

In this episode of State of Wellbeing, Nicole Gertken, Viena Klipfel, and Jasmine Monnier from the Wintrode Student Success and Opportunity Center discuss how students can recover from mistakes and missteps and continue to have success in college. They also touch on the role of faculty and staff in supporting students through these challenges.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will recognize common academic and non-academic mistakes as opportunities for personal and academic growth, fostering a mindset of resilience and adaptability.
Students will develop techniques to manage and recover from academic or personal setbacks, including goal setting, reflecting on missteps, and focusing on positive future actions.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of campus resources, such as academic advising, Study Hub, and counseling services, and their role in supporting academic and personal success.
 
Processing Questions:
What support resources are available to assist students at SDSU when dealing with mistakes and missteps? Why does SDSU invest in these resources and how does that connect to your own student success?
What are some strategies to overcome typical missteps that students make?
How can the concepts of resilience and success discussed in the podcast help you prepare for life beyond college?

Wellbeing During Finals Week (Episode Originally Released April 16, 2024)

Stressed about upcoming final exams? Get some tips from SDSU students Katie Milbrandt and Emma Ludens on how to manage that stress and have a successful finals week.
Student Learning Outcomes:
1. Students will be able to identify common mental health challenges (e.g., procrastination, lack of motivation, burnout) and their impact on academic success, particularly during stressful periods like finals.
2. Students will develop a structured approach to managing their time, including creating study schedules, prioritizing tasks, and maintaining a balance between academic and personal activities.
3. Students will be able to navigate and use campus resources like tutoring, supplemental instruction, and success advising at the Wintrode Student Success Center effectively.
4. Apply stress-reduction techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and positive affirmations to manage test anxiety and maintain focus during exams.
 
Processing Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed. What strategies could you implement next time to maintain balance?
2. Imagine a friend is hesitant to seek academic support because they feel embarrassed. What advice would you give them?
3. How can visualizing success before an exam positively influence your performance?
4. What is one small change you can make this week to improve your academic habits?
 

Digital Wellness

November is Digital Health Month at SDSU! In this episode of the State of Wellbeing podcast, host Caitlin Walters, a wellbeing specialist, and guest Ashley Day, a staff counselor, discuss digital wellness and its importance in cultivating a balanced relationship with technology. Caitlin and Ashley share personal positives of technology use, like social connection and accessibility, but also note downsides, including reduced quality time with family and the tendency to "doomscroll." They also suggest practical strategies to counter procrastination, like breaking down tasks into manageable steps and planning study times based on individual productivity peaks. The episode underscores the role of self-awareness and intentionality in developing a healthier relationship with technology for improved wellbeing.
 
Learning Outcomes:
1. Listeners will be able to define digital wellness.
2. Listeners will be able to identify ways they can improve their relationship with digital technology.
3. Listeners will be able to identify some of the potential disadvantages of overuse of technology.
 
Processing Questions:
1. What are three ways you can improve your relationship with social media and technology.
2. What are some positives and drawbacks of digital technology use.

Stress and Stress Management

In recognition of Stress Awareness Day, the State of Wellbeing podcast brings you a discussion into the complex world of stress - what it is, how it affects the body and mind, and ways to manage it effectively.
 
Learning Objectives:
1. Listeners will be able to describe stress and identify ways that stress manifests.
2. Listeners will be able to create a plan with at least three ways to decrease stress in their lives.
3. Listeners will be able to explain why stress can be beneficial.
 
Processing Questions:
1. What is the main difference between stress and anxiety?
2. What are some ways you can reduce stress in your own life?
3. Why might stress be beneficial?

Understanding Sleep

In this episode of the State of Wellbeing podcast, Caitlin Walters, the wellbeing specialist at South Dakota State University, discusses the importance of sleep with April Schneider, a nurse practitioner at the campus health clinic. They explore what good sleep looks like and highlight how poor sleep can lead to various issues, such as weakened immunity, impaired concentration, memory issues, mood disturbances, and physical performance deficits. The podcast provides practical advice on sleep hygiene, including creating a sleep-focused environment and avoiding activities like studying in bed. 
 
Learning Objectives:
1. Recognize the role of sleep in physical recovery, memory retention, and overall wellbeing.
2. Describe the potential impact of inadequate sleep.
3. Learn strategies to improve sleep quality and identify resources for those experiencing sleep issues.
 
Processing questions:
1. What are some of the consequences of getting a poor night's sleep?
2. What is the importance of REM sleep in your sleep pattern?
3. What is your self-assessment of your sleep? Are you getting enough sleep? What is the quality of that sleep? Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10.

Navigating Anxiety in College (Episode originally released February 7, 2024)

This week, we are re-releasing our most popular podcast episode, Navigating Anxiety in College. Anxiety remains a highly requested topic for our listeners, and a follow-up to this episode will be coming later this semester.
Join Pharmacy Professor and Medical Professional Dr. Jeremy Daniel, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP and Staff Counselor Julia Walker, MS, LPC-Supervisee as they discuss the ins-and-outs of anxiety. You’ll get answers to some common questions like, what is anxiety, and more importantly, what it isn’t?; What does treatment look like? And how has social media changed the meaning of the word ‘anxiety’? Hang out until the end of the episode for specific tips and skills to manage anxiety right now and how we as a community can support each other. 
 
Student Learning Outcomes:
1. Students will be able to define anxiety, recognize its common symptoms, and differentiate between normal stress responses and anxiety disorders.
2. Learners will be able to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy coping skills, understanding that while some methods, like alcohol, may temporarily alleviate anxiety, they may worsen it in the long term.
3. Learners will understand the need to have a variety of coping techniques and strategies since no single method works in every situation.
 
Processing Questions:
1. Have you tried any grounding techniques before? Which ones worked best for you, and why? What are some other self-care strategies you could use when feeling overwhelmed by anxiety?
2. What kind of mental health resources have you found helpful on campus? 
3. How do you balance the pressures of academic performance with the need to maintain mental health?
 
 

Selecting a Major

Selecting or changing a major can be a stressful time for students. In this State of Wellbeing episode, Vice Provost Teresa Seefeldt has a conversation with academic advisor Chanda Walter about successfully navigating the major selection process.
 
Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the major change process at South Dakota State University.
2. List resources available to help students select a major.
 
Processing Questions:
1. Reflect on your current major. Why did you select that major? How have your feelings about your major changed over time?
2. If you decided to change your major, what should your first step be? What resources should you utilize to explore majors?
3. What is the exploratory studies program and how does it help students find the right academic pathway?

SDSU Student Health Clinic

The South Dakota State University Student Health Clinic is dedicated to providing cost-effective, evidence-based health care tailored to students, promoting wellbeing and academic success within an inclusive and respectful setting. Janae Jacobsen, certified nurse practitioner, discusses services provided by the Student Health Clinic.
Learning Objectives:
Listeners will be able to identify at least three services provided by the Student Health Clinic.
Listeners will be able to implement two strategies to support their immune system when returning to campus.
Listeners will be able to locate the Student Health Clinic on campus.
 
Processing questions:
What is one thing you learned about the student health clinic?
What are two ways to support your immune system when returning to campus?
Where is the student health clinic located?