Students celebrate health of mind, body

Professor James Skalicky and  his students gathered on May 19 at the owl fountain to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month and commemorate the 10-year anniversary of Skalicky's psychology of religion course on campus with the release of 10 white doves.

Seats set up for the event were full. Onlookers gathered on benches around the owl fountain to observe.

Skalicky began the ceremony by handing out doves to his psychology of religion students, who fumbled with the anxious birds before releasing them at 1:37 p.m. The birds ascended above the campus  center mall.

Releasing the doves symbolizes universal peace, Skalicky said.

Other speakers included dean Michael Hurtado of the social and behavioral sciences division, Citrus College crisis counselor Steve Avalos and attorney William Sayegh. The focus of the celebration was to bring attention to "body-mind medicine," the congruence of mental and physical health awareness.

"The mind and body are related," Sayegh said. "People don't get physically healthy unless they're mentally healthy."

All of our problems have root in the mind, Avalos said.

"We have way more power over our physiology than we know," he said.
Avalos specializes in ayurvedic medicine, the traditional system of medicine in India, which he said prompts patients "to know why."

"You have much more control over your body than anyone who is telling you what to do," Avalos told the crowd.

Avalos and Hurtado urged students to take advantage of services available to them in the Student Health Center in Hayden Hall, which has a full-time therapist and intern.

Students are allowed four free visits per semester.

"We are passionate about this field of helping people," Avalos said. "Three to five years ago there would have been a small interest in mental health, [but] it's a stressful time we live in."

"You are dealing with far more issues than we do," Avalos said. "I was hired because there are a lot of situations at Citrus College that need to be addressed."

He cited examples such as relationship issues, drug-related issues, eating disorders, conflicts between students and parents, and even parental drug abuse.
In keeping with the combined theme of mental health awareness and psychology of religion, the speakers also touched on their philosophies of life.

"When you find a passion, go with it. When you find something that works for you, go for it. Everything will fall in place [after that], even economically," Avalos said. "You guys are our hope."

Sayegh expressed his belief in a universal truth.

"There is something in us that recognizes truth [and] you get distracted from the truth with dogma," Sayegh said. "Learn to look for truth."

"Don't pursue success in and of itself; pursue life," Sayegh said. "Learn a good philosophy of life."

All religions need to celebrate their commonalities, because differences only bring about conflict, Sayegh said.

Sharon Nicholas, a student in the psychology of religion course who is also an assistant administrator at El Monte Convalescent Hospital, said Skalicky's course has given her a greater understanding of the residents she works with.

"There is a craving for spirituality, happiness and well-being innate in everyone," Skalicky said.

The Student Health Center is located in Hayden Hall at the east end of campus. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon.

During the summer session, the health center will be open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and can be reached at (626) 914-8671.