September, a suicide prevention awareness month, revolves around the wellness of an individual. The wellness docket, under the People and Culture Department, organizes a Wellness Fair every year to promote health and wellbeing. This is achieved by providing a platform where people, in this case, our students and staff rediscover avenues for achieving a balanced lifestyle and wellbeing.

With this year’s theme, An Integrated Approach to Personal Well-being, the 2023 wellness fair had a number of activities. There was a chance for the participants to energize their social and intellectual wellness through a number of board games laid out for them. That was the board games competition and writing guild; Kenya Sign Language awareness, traditional medicine regulations and awareness; electric bicycle riding; first aid club activities; and chaplaincy. These activities cover the Wellness dimensions, which include Mental Health, Social Wellness, Intellectual Wellness, Physical Wellness, Occupational Wellness, Spiritual wellness, and Financial Wellness.

In the Wellness workshop, we had different speakers who delved into topics that were interconnected with the theme of the day and the wellness dimensions: Self-discipline in personal well-being by Prof. Ismael Ateya who you might have spotted on the Northern bypass at the crack of dawn, cycling his way to good health; Setting well-being goals by Lena Gachoki; practicing well-being in the family by Raymond Mutura, and stress and burnout practical steps by Dr. Mukami Njoroge. 

Key takeaways from this session were: 

• IBM: use meal times at homes to spend time with and get to know your family members more. 
• Your retirement package should have three bare minimums: a car, health insurance, and a house. 
• What you choose to do now (e.g. sleep in versus go out for a run), will be reflected in your body a few years from now. Therefore, choose wisely and take care of your physical health.
• When the going gets tough, do not suffer alone. Do not shy away from reaching out to others – this could be a mentor, a close friend, a spiritual director, or, when needed, a psychologist.

The Wellness Challenge got staff members competitive and excited to both impact the lives of young people as well as win a Mbuzi for their efforts. Team SLS won the judges vote while Team Communications won the popular vote.

At the Wellness tent, Stratizens had fun while picking up ideas on how to bolster the eight dimensions of wellness. From board games, spiritual wellness, to eye clinics, there was something for everyone. 

We had representatives from financial institutions, medical representatives and insurance companies, just to mention a few. These included;  Child In Family Focus, Riziki Source,eBee, Kereita, Amref, KemRi, Fun Team Africa, Fitness Coaches Strathmore University Medical Centre, NHIF, I&M, Britam Insurance, Zamara, Equity Bank, HFC, Sign Language, and Small Five Vet Clinic among others.

Now that the Wellness Fair is a wrap, would you say that all the 8 dimensions of wellness create a complete wheel, one that comfortably steers you through the journey of life? Are there aspects that are neglected? If you’d like to learn more on how to intergrate all aspects of wellness, contact the wellness team: suwellness@strathmore.edu. 

This article was written by Teresa Nekesa.