Kennesaw State’s Division of Student Affairs partnered with a nonprofit organization known as Active Minds to raise awareness about mental health and suicide.
This organization sheds light on mental health and suicide awareness in very unique ways. On March 22, Active Minds’ Send Silence Packing exhibit presented 1,100 backpacks spread out across the campus green. These backpacks symbolized 1,100 suicides. Attached to these backpacks was a story written by family and friends of loved ones that tragically lost their lives to suicide.
Around the exhibit were counseling booths, ready to answer any questions or assist students who may have been triggered by the exhibit. Counselors also walked throughout the exhibit handing out pamphlets with information on the school’s counseling services.
“Just having Active Minds on campus, students felt more inclined to seek counseling and help,” one counselor said.
Walking up and down each row of backpacks, students wore solemn expressions with hands tucked neatly into their pockets. Others were kneeling beside each backpack, immersed in the stories told.
Anxiety and depression are the top two concerns plaguing college students every year. Of these concerns, two-thirds of college students do not seek help or treatment to combat these issues. According to Mayo Clinic, issues such as social pressures and skill deficits play a vital role in the mental health of college students.
Active Minds is a nonprofit organization founded by Alison Malmon who lost her older brother to suicide. Malmon felt that there was more that could have been done to save her brother, warning signs that could have been heeded.
Mental health has such a negative stigma that many students do not reach out when they need help. Malmon aimed to change that. She applied her experience to create Active Minds so she, other students and volunteers nationwide can help fight the stigma against mental health.
Over the years, Active Minds grew to include people of all ages around the nation. Many people aiming to de-stigmatize mental health have shared their stories of past struggles and what they did to overcome them.
One such volunteer was Kai Roberts who appeared as a guest speaker for KSU’s Counseling and Psychological Services on March 23.
Roberts shared his experiences with anxiety and intrusive thoughts and the journey he took to overcome these obstacles. Roberts emphasized that the best decision he ever made was to seek professional help. His therapist listened to him intensely and provided input when needed.
Throughout the meeting, he asked many engaging questions, which led to many heartfelt answers. Roberts left the audience with the following advice, ensuring every student in attendance heard his message: “You are not your darkest thoughts and emotions. You are not alone.”
Counselors concluded the meeting by informing the students of weekly meetings, both one-on-one and group meetings. Counselors encouraged students to attend, especially if they suffer from anxiety.
