Coping With Clouds event helps brighten up the SURC

CWU brightened up the winter doldrums on Thursday, February 12, welcoming hundreds of students and more than a dozen campus partners to the SURC for Coping With Clouds. 

The annual multi-disciplinary, carnival-style event, organized by the Office of Health Promotion, is designed to educate and support students while promoting mental health and wellbeing. Assistant Director of Health Promotion Alexandra Collyer explained that enhancing the mental health of students, both inside and outside of the classroom, is a priority for CWU. 

“The entire purpose of the day is to talk about mental health and wellbeing,” she said, adding that what makes Coping With Clouds so successful is that it connects students with CWU faculty and staff who are here to help. “Winter can be a difficult time for students, and we want them to know about the resources that are available to them.”

Among the offices and student groups that joined the festivities in SURC 136-137 were CWU Libraries, the Veteran and Military-Connected Student Center, Disability Services, Transfer Center, Multicultural Center, CWU Recreation, ASCWU, Money Savvy Wildcats, Student Counseling, Campus Activities, Wildcat Pantry, Basic Needs, and PATH survivor advocacy.

Representatives for each of the campus partners shared their services and the role they play in helping students focus in improving their mental health.

Each booth featured a game or activity for students to win prizes. Some of the fan favorites were self-care bingo, fishing for prizes in the duck pond, and raffle items like a mindfulness sloth and art therapy cards.

“We want them to have all of the resources and information they need in one place, but most of all, want to create an opportunity to meet people and have a good time,” Collyer said.

The event started in 2019 as Fresh Check Day and changed its name to Coping With Clouds in 2023. Until this year, the booths occupied the SURC corridor, but organizers felt they could draw more people in if everyone were all together in the same space.

The Office of Health Promotion coordinates a series of mental health and wellbeing events throughout the year, including Adulthood Unlocked, Show Up Speak Out, and Mental Health Awareness Month. Students or employees who want to learn how to recognize and respond to mental health problems can also be certified in Mental Health First Aid through their office. 

On Friday, February 27, the team hosted the Honmoon Carnival, a self-care focused event complete with games, a Ramen bar, dance lessons and face painting. Attendees at each of the events are encouraged to talk about their fears and uncertainties so they can benefit from the support network CWU provides.

“We want them to know that we care about their mental health,” Collyer said.