Our Student Wellness Initiative

Law school can be pretty miserable.  In my first year, I thought there must be a better way.  I developed a series of workshops to address some of the problems I observed: mental and emotional stress, physical stress, poor nutrition, etc.  to cheer people up and help them feel better and preform better. 

 

In 2010, the UNH School of Law Student Bar Association voted to fund my pilot program called the Student Wellness Initiative.  Based on positive student and staff feedback, I expand the Wellness Initiative this year program to offer students a broader range of opportunities to learn to support their own physical and mental health.  Presenters are local wellness professionals who can offer ongoing support to students in the community, as well as local health and wellness educators affiliated with the University of New Hampshire and the Community College system of New Hampshire, including NHTI's Department of Human Service and Addiction Counseling. 

Law school is very demanding, so many of the workshops focus on stress management.  For example, students can learn Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MSBR) techniques, strategies for work/life balance (the “Happy Lawyer” workshop), and meditation techniques.  Several workshops also focus on self-care, which supports academic success and professional longevity.  Self-care workshop topics include healthy eating to sustain energy and enhance brain function, integrative restoration (iRest) to facilitate better quality sleep, and “10 Minute Yoga” routines that students can practice at their desks to ward off repetitive stress injuries and joint  compression caused by long hours of sitting and typing. 

Weekly yoga classes will be offered for students, faculty, and staff.  Many students have tried yoga for the first time at UNH School of Law, and report that it helps them recover from long days of studying and the pressure of a challenging academic schedule.  A local yoga studio donated yoga mats and props, and our maintenance manager graciously allocated storage space for them in the building. 

A “Calendar Control” workshop also offers strategies to help students balance work and self-care for overall greater productivity.   

The ABA Student Division designated March 27 as National Mental Health Day as part of its Law Student Mental Health Initiative.  UNH Law’s SBA Student Wellness Initiative will offer daily seminars on mental health issues during the last week in March, including presentations from the Lawyer Assistance Program. 

We also anticipate collaboration with the UNH School of Nursing, which can provide on-site health screenings and wellness education, as well as collaboration with New Hampshire Technical Institute students and faculty in areas including nutrition, meditation, response to vicarious trauma, and mindful communication.