STUDENTS cuddled puppies, played games and chilled out as part of Mental Health Week celebrations at Edith Cowan University in Joondalup last week.
Occupational therapy students held a range of activities designed to promote mental health awareness and social engagement.
Course co-ordinator Helen McDonald said the annual event aimed to help students feel less isolated.
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READ NOW“We’re trying to get people engaged and having a conversation about it,” she said.
“We know WA’s suicide rate is increasing and we know a lot of our students are suffering anxiety and depression.”
She said the activities helped to foster conversations while participating in a fun, social pursuit.
“We’re getting people to do something rather than just talking,” she said.
“They’re doing something rather than just feeling miserable and anxious.”
Students saw it as a way of promoting occupational therapy, which they said was about the mind as well as the body.
The event featured a sausage sizzle, chill out zone, gardening area, games and greyhounds from Greyhounds Adoptions WA.
The university wellbeing unit also hosted several puppies for students to pet.