To encourage healthy habits and self-love, IUPUI Health and Wellness Promotion hosted this year’s Healthy Relationships Week from Feb. 12-16. Health and Wellness Promotion is an educational office under the Division of Student Affairs that seeks to promote healthy behaviors and educate IUPUI students on wellness topics. In support of their mission, Health and Wellness Promotion hosted a variety of workshops, activities and social events for students specifically geared toward healthy relationships.
Healthy Relationships Week has been occurring since 2016. In previous years, events have focused on sexual health, birth control methods, STI testing and more. Currently, this week-long series of on-campus events work to promote safe sexual habits, self-love, consent and social responsibility.
Many events had interactive or social aspects to them, as well as free items for students to bring home. These events were free and available to all IUPUI students, and they offered a way for students to destress while encouraging healthy habits.
Lynessa Greene, an IUPUI student who attended a Valentine’s Day card-making workshop during Healthy Relationships Week, shared her thoughts on the event.
“I was able to do something fun and simple during a stressful week,” Greene said. “I got some cute stickers and pins from the event.”
To help students explore relationship types and identities, the educational event “What’s With Relationships Anyways?” was co-hosted by the Multicultural Center, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and the LGBTQ+ Center on Feb. 13. This event included interactive stations which covered topics such as the asexual and aromantic spectrum, polyamorous and non-monogamous relationship types and modern machismo culture. As part of this event, there were giveaways, games and free items.
For students who wanted a more hands-on, engaging experience, they were able to attend a mocktail masterclass held on Feb. 15. This alcohol-free event helped students learn how to craft their own signature mocktails. During the class, students created a strawberry bee’s knees mocktail. This drink was made using club soda, strawberries, honey syrup, lemon juice, ice and a strawberry or lemon twist garnish. All materials were provided to participants for this event, and students who participated went home with their own IUPUI mocktail glass.
In collaboration with CAPS and the Office of Sustainability, the event “Falling in Love with the Earth: Sustainability and Gratitude” occurred on Feb. 16. This event focused on promoting connection to others and self love by practicing gratitude for the earth and introducing sustainability practices.
Campus Recreation also took part in Healthy Relationships Week by hosting “Partner Up with Your Exercises Week.” From Feb. 12-16, Campus Recreation members could bring a friend or partner who was not a member to exercise at the campus recreation facilities. Participants were also given the option to participate in the group fitness classes.
Hundreds of students were able to enjoy the benefits of Healthy Relationships Week. Working with other IUPUI departments allowed the Health and Wellness Promotion to offer activities that were inclusive and diverse, and to reach a large number of students.
Kennedy McCormack (she/her) is an Indiana University Indianapolis junior who is majoring in Health Services Management. Kennedy is a journalist for the Campus Citizen with a focus on writing about campus events. After college, Kennedy hopes to pursue a career in healthcare communications or marketing.
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