Nestor's Wellness Spotlight
Welcome to Nestor’s Wellness Spotlight! Each month, Nestor highlights an important wellness topic to support the health and well-being of our Westfield State community. Explore helpful information, practical tips, campus resources, and upcoming events designed to help you care for yourself, support your fellow Owls, and stay connected to resources across campus.
Check back each month for a new wellness topic and Nestor’s Tip of the Month!
Owls look out for Owls. This month, we’re focusing on how we can help create a community where consent is valued, boundaries are respected, and everyone feels supported.
Sexual assault prevention also includes recognizing warning signs and behaviors that may contribute to sexual violence, learning how to safely intervene, and supporting survivors.
Protect each other from dangerous situations and remember the Four Ds of bystander intervention!
Be DIRECT and ask someone to stop their problematic, violent, or abusive behavior if it is safe to do so. You can also directly ask the person being harassed if they are ok or want help.
DELEGATE by finding others (friends, peers, or people with authority) to help you- there is safety in numbers, and people are more likely to help when asked!
DISTRACT an aggressor's behavior by “unintentionally” causing a subtle distraction- bumping into the person in need, asking for something, or acting excited to find them.
Having a DELAYED response is ok- things happen quickly, or you hear of incidents after the fact. It’s never too late to provide someone with support or resources!
Consent is an important part of healthy and respectful interactions. It should be clear, voluntary, and communicated by everyone involved. Understanding what consent looks like can help ensure that everyone feels respected, comfortable, and safe. Keep these five key principles in mind when understanding and communicating consent:
Freely Given
Consent should be given without someone feeling pressured, forced, or manipulated, or being drunk/high.
Reversible
Minds can change at any time so consent can be withdrawn at any point (even in the middle of an act!).
Informed
Both partners have the right to know what they are consenting to (e.g. birth control, relationship status, STIs).
Enthusiastic
If it's not an enthusiastic "yes," then it's a "no."
Specific
Consent is specific to what is going on in the moment, so it can not be assumed that if consent is given once it will continue to be given. Consenting to one thing (e.g. kissing) does not consenting to other things (e.g. sex).
Sexual assault can impact a survivor’s psychological, behavioral, interpersonal, and physical well-being. Responding with care and connecting survivors with appropriate resources can make an important difference.
If a survivor discloses their experience to you, remember TALK:
If you have experienced or witnessed concerning behavior, reporting options and support are available.
Caring for Your Well-Being
Everyone copes differently. Helpful strategies may include talking with a counselor or someone you trust, spending time with loved ones, engaging in movement, creating art, journaling, spending time outside, or taking time to rest.
Finding the type of support that works for you is an important part of caring for your well-being.
Bystander Intervention
Thursday, September 10
Time TBA
Campus Green (weather permitting)
Learn about strategies for safely stepping in, speaking up, and supporting others when you notice a concerning situation.
What Would You Do? Tabling Event
Time TBA
Thursday, October 1
Location TBA
Stop by and explore real-life scenarios that encourage you to think about how you can safely respond, support others, and make a difference.