Mental health week starts conversation

Events for Mental Health Week, dedicated to alleviating stress and providing resources for college students, are in full swing and will continue until Friday, Oct. 22 with self-care activities and tabling by student organizations.

The week kicked off on Monday evening with a presentation by psychiatrist Nathaan Demers about mental health on college campuses at Pellegrene Auditorium.

Wednesday’s event, a panel discussion about mental health on college campuses, included a continuation of the open conversation.

“It’s a cool opportunity to meet with some awesome panelists. I’m flattered to be there,” CSB senior and panelist Abby Goff said. “I’m happy to speak about my personal experience as a student during COVID and education in trauma research.”

Goff didn’t realize how much was missing during COVID until she arrived back at school this year.

“I was missing all the parts that made it good,” Goff said. “It was really easy to get sucked into a negative mindset when I needed to remember that this was temporary.”

In the aftermath of the pandemic protocols, many other students are still regaining their footing.

“COVID was definitely isolating and made it hard to use the resources on campus when everything was virtual,” CSB sophomore Emma Vicker said. “My mental health started out rough as a first-year, especially in a new community where I didn’t know anyone.”

Vicker found campus counseling to be beneficial.

Active Minds, a student organization founded last year to help students discuss mental health issues, was a product of the pandemic. To date, it has reached more than 150 members.

“It was great to create a space that a lot of people needed, for mental health resources and to talk about mental health,” said Tiana Mick, Active Minds president and CSB senior. “Many people either struggle with it themselves or know someone who is struggling. It is really common, but very taboo to talk about.”

The club decorated the sidewalk on Monday by the bus stop at CSB and will host an Arboretum walk starting in front of the Abbey on Thursday, Oct. 21, at 5 p.m.

Mental health issues are not uncommon among college students, and CSB/SJU students are no exception. There are many resources available on campus for students, including free counseling.

The counseling program has also recently partnered with Central MN Sexual Assault Center for focused support groups. According to Tamara Hennes-Vixs, project coordinator, it will be highly confidential and accessible through QR code for interested parties. The support groups have been formed to give “increasing attention to intervention and prevention of sexual assault, dating, domestic violence and stalking” within Project Embrace.

While the project relates to Mental Health Week, it is much more personal.

“Privacy is a big thing for our specific area. Our route for mental health week is advocating for the services and support groups,” said Addie Fischer, CERTS student coordinator.

Resources can be found under Project Embrace on the CSB/SJU webpage.