Peace of Mind Week might be the last thing you would expect to see on the Sports page.  But event organizers will tell you that sport – physical activity and involvement – plays a large part in mental wellness and is a key to true “peace of mind.”

The week’s events include speeches from neurosurgeons, mental health presentations  and information on balanced eating. 

But it is important to remember the physical aspect of mental health and our need to remain active.

“Exercise is one of the key ways to reduce stress,” Luke Gatta said. Gatta is the Vice President for Fellowship of Alpha Eplison Delta, the pre-health club on campus and sponsor of Peace of Mind Week.

Alpha Eplison Delta, one of Saint Louis University’s many academic fraternities, is not afraid to shy away from the norm.  The fraternity has over 500 members and sponsors events year round, culminating in this week’s schedule.

“Peace of Mind Week is a campus-wide week of events, designed to promote health, eating and overall mental wellness,” Gatta said. “It’s a stressful time of year, and we picked this week on purpose because we know it can be a tough time for students.”

And the 3-on-3 basketball tournament is one of their biggest ideas.

“We originally wanted to have a similar event for our fraternity, but we had an opportunity to work with Simon Rec Center and open it up to the whole campus,” Colin Hirsch said, the tournament’s organizer. 

“It’s a great opportunity to compete and to contribute to a good cause,” Hirsch continued.

All proceeds from the event go to the Alzheimer’s Association. 

The tournament costs $5 to enter, and students are welcome to form teams of three or four students.  Each team is guaranteed a minimum of three games, and the top three finishers will receive prizes.

Hirsch said teams are already on the schedule, and in many cases, the trash talking has begun.

“It’s a competitive atmosphere, but it all comes back to a good cause and a real benefit for students,” Hirsch said. 

“We want students to stay active and get involved with events like this on campus.  It can make a huge difference to relieve stress.”