Mental Health and Nutrition have become concerns for many parties considering their significant impact on the productivity of working staff. This includes the staff of the Library and Archives. In celebration of its first anniversary, the Library and Archives organized a health lecture on Monday (1/7) at the Seminar Room of the Library and Archives, conducted in a hybrid format and attended by participants from all librarians, archivists, library staff, and archive staff within Universitas Gadjah Mada, as well as open to limited Library visitors. The Health Lecture is one of the collaborative activities between RSA UGM, HPU UGM, and GMC, along with a series of blood donation activities and RSA Goes to Campus, all held simultaneously.
"This Health Lecture is held precisely on July 1 as part of the first anniversary celebration of the Library and Archives of UGM," said Sarwono, S.IP., M.A., chairman of the Library and Archives anniversary committee for 2024. "According to survey results, awareness of mental health remains low," added Arif Surachman, S.IP., M.B.A., Head of the Library and Archives, in his remarks.
It is hoped that this event will help improve staff's ability to manage their mental health accompanied by balanced nutrition. This activity also reflects the commitment of the Library and Archives to implement SDG Goal 3 on Good Health and Well-being.
Healthy mental state is certainly inseparable from physical well-being. "With a healthy body, mental health will also follow suit, and we should be the ones managing our schedules, not the other way around," said Prof. Dra. Yayi Suryo Prabandari, M.Si., Ph.D., delivering the Mental Health content.
"Change must start from small things, even being grateful for the smallest things can make us happier, just as physical activities can increase endorphin hormones, which have positive effects on mental health," she added.
Mental health also depends on the quality of the food we consume. "The better the nutritional content of the food we consume, the better it is for our bodies," as stated by Tony Arjuna, S.Gz., M.Nut.Diet., AN., APD., Ph.D., during his presentation on Nutrition Management. "There are millions of microbes entering our mouths from food, so we must be more selective about what goes into our mouths," he explained.
"The effects of the food we eat also manifest gradually over the long term. Besides the type of food, improper eating patterns can also impact health, including feelings of fatigue, drowsiness, mood swings, brain fog, and depression," he stated.
Both speakers managed to lighten the atmosphere, and participants appeared enthusiastic in listening and asking questions, both online and offline. Following the presentations and Q&A session, three top questioners received door prizes from the Library and Archives.
Contributor: Nabiilah