Survey elicits information to boost wellness efforts
for graduate students

U-M graduate students identify themselves as very healthy, yet most responding to a survey report moderate to high levels of daily stress.

Most also are concerned about eating unhealthy foods or eating too much.

The responses come from more than 1,000 graduate and professional school students who earlier this year answered a Rackham Health and Wellness Survey sent to 5,000 students. The survey was the first phase of a health and wellness initiative launched by Janet Weiss, dean of the Rackham School of Graduate Studies and vice provost for academic affairs, to complement the Michigan Healthy Community Initiative for faculty and staff.

Because graduate school is typically rigorous and demanding, it is especially important for graduate students to take active steps to remain healthy. "We all need to feel well to do well," says Weiss. Rackham's definition of wellness, she adds, includes more than just physical health: there also are psychological, spiritual, vocational, intellectual and cultural elements.

"Balance within and among these is essential to success in graduate school and throughout your professional life," Weiss says.

Among those surveyed, about 87 percent identified themselves as in good health or very healthy. Eighty-six percent of respondents reported moderate or high levels of stress. Fifty-eight percent reported they were concerned with eating unhealthy foods, and 54 percent said they were concerned about eating too much. Students were asked an open-ended question about what kinds of activities help them to relieve stress. Most students reported physical activity as stress-relieving.

Academic and job demands, financial difficulties, family demands or problems, and the relationships between students and advisers were cited as the biggest contributors to stress.

To help graduate students manage stress, the Health and Wellness Initiative includes a mental health awareness campaign. Rackham and the Psychological Clinic will be hosting a mental health screening event from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 5 as part of a national effort for screenings in the campus and community. The event will be at the Psychological Clinic, Suite 2463, 530 Church St.

The graduate school has produced and distributed a "Got Stress?" brochure, which explains how students can locate assistance from resources on campus. Copies are available by contacting Natalie Bartolacci, program manager, at 647-2640 or at nplosky@umich.edu. Health and wellness workshops also are scheduled this fall, including Managing Your Mind: Time Management for Graduate Students, and Balancing Work and Life, and several workshops on nutrition.

A recent article in the Chronicle for Higher Education identified five characteristics of successful graduate students: discipline, networking ability, mental health, flexibility and patience.

"The Graduate School recognizes the importance of these characteristics in graduate student success," Weiss says. "We will continue to focus on stress management and mental health topics throughout the Health and Wellness Initiative. Because many students told us in the survey that physical activity and nutrition are important to their sense of well-being, we will also include those in our programming for 2006-07."

The dean says the Health and Wellness Initiative will continue to develop and promote resources for graduate students to improve nutrition, increase exercise, explore personal and professional development, get control over unhealthy habits, and connect with peers at social and cultural activities.

"Over the next three years, we'll be developing programs and activities that get health-related resources into students' hands more easily, to encourage balance and habits that will promote lifelong academic success. We will continue to do this in partnership with faculty and staff who have an interest in your well-being and those who provide resources to help meet your needs," she says.

For more information go to www.rackham.umich.edu/StudentInfo/hwi/index.html.

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