Wellness Programs

Programs

Campus & Community Partnerships

The Counseling & Wellness Center offers programs and collaborative initiatives that support students’ mental health, well-being, personal growth, and success. Through partnerships with departments and programs across Santa Fe College, the CWC works to integrate mental health and wellness into the broader campus community. We also collaborate with community organizations and mental health providers to connect students with additional resources and services that extend beyond the college.

These partnerships create opportunities for education, outreach, skill-building, connection, and access to support throughout the Santa Fe College community. Explore our current programs and collaborations to learn how the Counseling & Wellness Center works with campus and community partners to promote a healthier, more connected college community.

Peers

Mental Health Peer Ambassador Program

The Mental Health Peer Ambassador Program provides Santa Fe College students with opportunities to promote mental health, wellness, connection, and awareness across the college community.

The program began in fall 2023 through a collaboration between Santa Fe College and Meridian Behavioral Healthcare. Through this partnership, students received mental health training and professional development, explored careers in public health and behavioral health, and gained hands-on experience supporting mental health education and outreach on campus.

Each year, the Counseling & Wellness Center recruits currently enrolled students to serve as Mental Health Peer Ambassadors from September through May.

What Do Peer Ambassadors Do?

Peer Ambassadors work alongside the Counseling & Wellness Center to:

  • Promote mental health and wellness resources at campus events
  • Participate in outreach and tabling activities
  • Share information about mental health topics and campus resources
  • Lead educational workshops on topics such as anxiety, depression, consent, and self-care
  • Facilitate informal conversations with students about wellness and self-care
  • Promote mental health and wellness events through social media
  • Connect students with the Counseling & Wellness Center and other campus resources
  • Represent Santa Fe College and the Counseling & Wellness Center at college events

Peer Ambassadors may provide educational workshops in English and/or Spanish, helping increase access to mental health information and resources throughout the Santa Fe College community.

Interested in Becoming a Peer Ambassador?

Recruitment takes place each August, with Peer Ambassadors serving from September through May. Students interested in serving as a Peer Ambassador can learn more about the program and the application process through the Counseling & Wellness Center.

Monthly

Wellness Wednesdays

Wellness Wednesdays is a collaborative initiative of the Counseling & Wellness Center and the Santa Fe College Library designed to promote student well-being and encourage healthy ways to manage the demands of college life.

Held on the first Wednesday of each month in the Library, Wellness Wednesdays offer students an opportunity to take a break, connect with others, and participate in activities that support relaxation, creativity, and self-care. Activities may include gratitude journaling, LEGO-based activities, and other wellness-focused experiences.

For more information, contact the Counseling & Wellness Center at 352.395.5508 or counseling@sfcollege.edu, or the Santa Fe College Library at 352.395.5409 or library@sfcollege.edu.

Outdoors

Campus Garden

The Santa Fe College Community Garden provides students with an opportunity to connect with nature, participate in hands-on gardening activities, and support their overall well-being. Gardening can offer opportunities for movement, mindfulness, connection, and time away from the demands of college life.

Learn more about the Community Garden and current opportunities to participate:

  • NW Campus — Student Organic Garden Club, south of the fitness center, between lot 11 and 12, behind Building C. Open to students and staff. Student group work parties Fridays, 11:00–noon.
  • Davis Center (Archer) — Back patio, business hours. Outdoor raised bed gardens and a small tabletop Zen garden.
  • Perry Center (Alachua) — By main entrance and flag pole, business hours. Outdoor raised bed and a small tabletop Zen garden quiet zone indoors.
  • Watson Center (Keystone Heights) — South plant bed in KA building, business hours. Outdoor raised bed garden and a small tabletop Zen garden.
  • Andrews Center (Starke) — South side of building. Window boxes for planting herbs, vertical gardens, and a small tabletop Zen garden.
  • Kirkpatrick Center (IPS) — Indoor bubble-wall Zen zones and an outdoor Zen garden near Main Street.
Campus visits

Therapy Dogs

The Counseling and Wellness Center hosts therapy dog visits. Check with the Counseling and Wellness Center for the current schedule at Northwest Campus, Andrews Center, and Blount.