Wellbeing route opens on Otaniemi campus

The campus wellbeing route will be opened on 19.4.2023 as part of students' mental health day, with moderation as the national theme in 2023. As a campaing organised by the Student Wellbeing Network, Students' Mental Health Day is where the mental health situation of students is raised and everyone is encouraged to act to promote the mental health of students.  

'This wellbeing route is a breathing break that combines movement, surrounding campus nature and meditation. It includes several points that work both individually and as a whole, and can be rotated together with others or independently', says student psychologist Sanni Saarimäki and Aalto chaplain Anu Morikawa. 

The wellbeing route is intended to lower the threshold to go on a small walk in the outdoors during a study or working day.   

Tranquil route for the whole community  

The sound landscape of the campus varies from traffic to bird singing. Similarly, your own mental landscape can be calm, windy, or stormy, depending on the day and hour. The wellbeing route invites us to give up for a while and to reflect on how to walk and the themes that arise along the way - observing emotions, fostering the relationship with nature, body, calming and reasonableness - to highlight them.  

The five points of the wellbeing route are located in different parts of the campus. The route is open to everyone. There are guided tours available on the opening day. On the way, you walk by yourself, listening to yourself, at your own pace. Depending on the person, the wellbeing route lasts about 15-20 minutes, as you're not supposed to hurry while on the route.  

The visual appearance of the route and the suitability of the campus environment was coordinated by Aalto University Campus & Real Estate's project manager Aapo Pihkala. The wellbeing route was implemented together with Aalto University's wellbeing actors (study and career guidance psychologists, guidance counselors, Oasis of Radical Wellbeing and Aalto chaplains) and partners (Unisport, YTHS, AYY). The route is coordinated by Starting Point of Wellbeing, which offers low-threshold guidance and advice to Aalto students in challenges related to learning ability and wellbeing.      
 
Read more about the Students' Mental Health Day (Nyyti)