In a world where LGBTQIA+ students face unique challenges, Augustana’s LGBTQIA+ Wellness Group provides space on campus where students can breathe, speak freely and find support when they need it most. The group meets every Tuesday from 3 to 4 p.m. at Casa Latina. Its goal is to reduce isolation, eliminate stigma and foster a sense of community and acceptance.
Office of Student Inclusion and Diversity Assistant Director and LGBTQIA+ Coordinator Sam Wright developed the “LGBTQIA+ Wellness Group,” originally called “Mental Balance Check-ins,” to tackle the needs of LGBTQIA+ people on campus and help create a sense of community. The group’s plans include staying responsive to members’ needs and offering individual counseling if required.
“The motivation to create the group came from knowing that LGBTQIA+ individuals have a higher risk of experiencing mental health symptoms and discrimination,” Wright said. “I want LGBTQIA+ students to have quick access to mental health resources and also a place to comprehend current political events and executive orders.”
The group is described as a gathering among friends, supervised by individuals with basic clinical training. There is no stigma within the group, and a strong sense of openness allows members to feel safe discussing mental health issues they may face.
Sophomore Keela Sawyer, majoring in public health and women’s, gender and sexuality studies, deeply appreciates the sense of intimacy the group provides and the support offered by everyone present.
“The group provides an environment where no one’s [going to] judge you for your [presence], the pronouns you use or who you love,” Sawyer said.
According to Leah Jorgensen, a licensed professional counselor currently interning at Augustana, the meetings consist of informal conversations and structured discussions. In their last meeting, Wright introduced the “balloon breathing technique,” which is a tool that group members can use when they feel anxious and need to find a way to relax.
“Humor and casual chats help members cope with stress and fear,” Jorgensen said. “The group provides a space where people can be seen and supported, with opportunities for both lighthearted and serious conversations.”
Boundaries are set at the beginning of every meeting to maintain the safe, non-judgmental and intimate environment that characterizes the core values of the LGBTQIA+ Wellness Group. This is a place where people can speak freely about political events, executive orders or anything else that comes to their minds.
“This group is different from others because you don’t have to be careful about what you’re saying,” Sawyer said. “It feels like a good meditative space, and it’s meant to be less of a ‘let’s have fun’ and more of a ‘if we need to work through something, we can work through something together.’”
