By BREANNA HOY
Tiger Media Network
College life involves more than attending classes, completing assignments, and preparing for exams. Students also navigate relationships, social situations, mental health challenges, and personal responsibilities that can affect their overall well-being. At Fort Hays State University, Health and Wellness offers resources designed to help students manage these challenges and feel supported both inside and outside the classroom.
Through counseling, relationship support groups, medical services, and social skills development, the department works to make student wellness an important part of the college experience.
Relationships are an important part of college life, but learning how to establish boundaries, recognize unhealthy behaviors, and communicate effectively can take time. Health and Wellness offers a healthy relationships support group where students can discuss these topics in a welcoming environment.
Amy Schaffer, the director of counseling services at Health and Wellness, explained that the group helps students recognize red flags in relationships, establish boundaries, and better understand what healthy relationships look like.
The group also creates opportunities for students to ask questions and explore their own experiences. Topics are shaped by what participants want to discuss, allowing conversations to address their concerns and needs.
“We do talk about dating violence quite a bit and power and control in relationships,” Schaffer said.
The healthy relationships support group meets every other Tuesday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. during the semester. By creating space for these conversations, Health and Wellness encourages students to develop a better understanding of their relationships and how they interact with others.
Alongside relationship support, Health and Wellness offers Tigers Without Limits, a program focused on helping students develop social skills and navigate different environments.
Director of Tigers Without Limits Stacey Cole explained that the program was previously designed primarily for students who identify as neurodivergent, including those with autism or ADHD. This year, the program was expanded to welcome any student interested in strengthening their social skills.
Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, the program adapts its activities to the needs of individual participants. Students may work on communication in group settings, classroom interactions, or individual situations.
“We focus a lot on social skills that maybe individuals are lacking and how do we build those,” Cole said.
Recent sessions have explored effective communication, participating in conversations, and understanding nonverbal communication. These skills can be useful in everyday situations, from making connections with classmates to communicating concerns with professors.
For example, students may practice expressing their needs clearly when facing challenges in the classroom. They may also work on ways to contribute to conversations and recognize how body language and other nonverbal cues affect interactions.
Although the program has planned topics, Cole emphasized that sessions can be adjusted to address what participants find most useful.
Because Tigers Without Limits focuses on skill development, students are encouraged to practice what they learn in their everyday lives. Participants who attend regularly may also receive personalized checklists to help them track and apply the skills they have been working on.
Tigers Without Limits meets every Thursday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. during the semester, offering students a consistent opportunity to practice and strengthen their social skills.
While relationship and social skills groups provide opportunities for personal growth, Health and Wellness offers additional resources for students who need support with their mental or physical health.
Counseling services are available to students at no cost and can help those experiencing anxiety, depression, or difficulties with coping skills. Students who feel they need individual support can connect with the department to explore their options.
Health and Wellness also provides medical services focused on prevention and maintaining physical health. These services include working with nurses, nurse practitioners, and other medical providers to address students’ health needs. Although some medical services have a cost, Schaffer explained that they are offered at affordable rates, and flu shots are free.
These resources reflect the department’s approach to wellness, which encompasses more than one aspect of a student’s life. Mental health, physical health, relationships, and social interactions can all influence how students navigate college.
As Schaffer explained, the department works to support students in ways that address their individual circumstances rather than focusing solely on academic performance.
Even when resources are available, reaching out for support can feel intimidating. Students may worry about privacy, feel uncertain about what services they need, or hesitate to ask questions.
Both Schaffer and Cole emphasized that creating a welcoming and confidential environment is an important part of their work.
Schaffer explained that the department aims to meet students where they are and collaborate with them to determine what support would be most helpful.
Cole added that students can receive individualized attention even when they initially attend a group session. Rather than requiring everyone to discuss the same concerns, staff members work to make the experience comfortable and relevant to each participant.
The department also recognizes that privacy can influence whether students seek help. Because Health and Wellness is located on the third floor, with no other offices on that floor besides its own, students may feel they have greater privacy when visiting.
For students who are hesitant to reach out, these efforts are intended to make seeking assistance feel less intimidating and more approachable.
With several services available, students may not always know which resource best fits their needs. Health and Wellness encourages students to start by asking questions and connecting with staff.
For students seeking counseling, the process begins with an intake appointment with the department’s case manager. During this appointment, students can discuss their needs and receive help connecting with appropriate services.
Case management can also help students find additional resources when challenges extend beyond counseling or medical care.
“Call us. Yes, make an appointment,” Schaffer said when asked what students should do if they are struggling but do not know where to begin.
Students can also learn about support groups through TigerLink, visit the Health and Wellness office, or speak with staff members when they see them on campus.
Cole emphasized that students do not have to navigate college challenges alone. As someone who also experiences classes and internships, she understands that students and staff can share some of the same pressures.
“We are in classes. We are having to do internships, so we get the same thing you guys are going through,” Cole said. “How can I come alongside you and help you get through it?”
Ultimately, Health and Wellness aims to help students overcome personal challenges that may affect their success in the classroom and in everyday life. Whether students need help navigating a relationship, building social confidence, managing their mental health, or addressing a physical health concern, the department provides opportunities to find support.
Schaffer emphasized that the department is there to help students work through barriers and connect with the resources they need to succeed.
By offering individualized services, creating welcoming spaces, and encouraging students to ask questions, Health and Wellness reinforces an important message: student success involves more than academics.
Students do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out. Sometimes, the first step toward feeling supported is simply starting a conversation.