Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s PsyD (doctoral psychology program) Graduate Student Organization is using funding received from a Pennsylvania Department of Education MASLOW grant of $1,000 to support student mental health.
Third-year psychology doctoral students Jenna Deutch, left, with Corinne Orr and Mocha the dog.
Corinne Orr, a third-year student in IUP’s PsyD program and president of the PsyD Graduate Student Organization authored the grant application. The student group decided to use the funds to establish a relaxation room in Uhler Hall. The room, located at G-18 Uhler Hall, opened for use on February 17.
The room is open to all students as a place to “decompress and relax,” Orr said. The room is soundproof with soft lighting, a speaker for music, and furniture intended to promote wellness (bean bag chair and hammock) and be a place where students can take a break with puzzles, fidget toys, coloring supplies, and yoga mats, Orr said.
PA MASLOW is named in recognition of American psychologist Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory; mental health is one of the seven pillars of work in PA MASLOW. This is the first time that the IUP organization has received a PA MASLOW grant.
Orr, originally from Cleveland, is a graduate assistant in IUP’s Counseling Center and in IUP’s Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs program. She completed her undergraduate and master’s degrees in clinical mental health counseling at Kent State University.
“We were thrilled to receive the grant, especially since it’s the first time for the organization to be funded by this agency,” Orr said. “Because we are training to be psychologists, mental health and wellness is something that we’re very passionate about, and we wanted to offer a space that is accessible for all students,” she said. “We also encourage students to use the room as a small group meeting space.”
The room is exclusively for students; it can be reserved in advance. Advance registrations are preferred, but for immediate use, students should follow the instructions posted on the door to use the room.
“I love how the relaxation room provides a quiet space to de-stress,” said Jenna Deutch, a third-year PsyD student said. “The stress-relief tools and welcoming energy make it the ideal place to reset and take care of my well-being.”