Mind, body and stress

Every college student knows how stressful midterms can be, but not as many know how to deal with that stress or get help when they need it. 

This is where the Health Huts come in. Vandal Health has many outreach programs, but few are as visible to the students as the Health Huts. They are set up in high traffic areas around times where they can reach the most students. The Health Hut March 5 was right outside of Einstein’s in the University of Idaho Commons. 

Emily Tuschoff, director of Vandal Health, said their focus was two-fold, promoting Fresh Check Day and raising awareness about stigmas surrounding mental illness.

Every Health Hut is planned and staffed by a student member of Vandal Health, said Gabi Stone, Health Hut volunteer. They are known as peer educators 

“Health Huts are ran by peer educators for students,” Tuschoff said. “They plan different health topics, health awareness topics and then develop some kind of interactive way to engage students in that topic.”

Nearly every other week, there is a new Health Hut with varying focuses for the students. Katy Everts said Vandal Health has five main focuses with the Health Huts which double as community outreach and student education, including sexual health and safety, mental health, safety with alcohol and drugs, nutrition and general wellness. Every Health Hut is planned with one of those five focuses in mind, she said. 

Sydney Miller, a student who interacted with the Health Hut March 5, said she appreciated the opportunity.

“I always like seeing their booths all the time, and I try to get my friends to come to them. … Their cooking class was really fun,” Miller said. “I love to go when they have dogs in the well space, when they did it in the Vandal Lounge like seeing the puppies was like really cute.”

Health Huts also provide helpful and effective therapy that many students mistake as playing with dogs. 

The Handbook on Animal Assisted Therapy says therapy sessions with animals in college are one of the most useful ways to provide therapy to the large group of college students who need it. 

The dogs work because they can provide quality social interaction inside a positive environment, all while reducing stress and improving mental health for students, according to the handbook.

Tuschoff said the mission for Vandal Health is to give students the resources to make the journey through college easier. If that a student is experiencing any symptoms or knows one who is, there is help available at the Counseling and Testing Center. 

Brandon Meyer can be reached at [email protected]