Syracuse University’s Student Association will host events including therapy dog sessions, a concert and late-night yoga as part of its third annual Mental Health Awareness week, which begins Sunday.  

Mental Health Awareness Week is designed to bring awareness to different aspects of mental health and spread knowledge of the resources available to SU students.  

The week’s events began with the “Be Well” Expo on Sunday in the Carrier Dome, which was required for all first-year students. SA is hoping at least a few hundred students will attend every event this week, SA members said. 

“Everyone is stressed, and there’s a million different things to be worrying about. But I think the big thing that we’re trying to focus on is that no one’s alone in that,” said Mackenzie Mertikas, co-chair of the Health and Wellness Committee and SA chief of staff. 

Mental Health Awareness Week began in 2016, when SA studied national statistics and peer universities to conduct research for a mental health report. The report found that SU has fewer counselors per student than other peer institutions.  

The findings also showed that many of the students surveyed dealt with issues such as anxiety, depression and academic struggles. SA decided to turn the week into an annual event and to make the Health and Wellness Committee a permanent group within SA.   

“Honestly, it’s necessary,” said Lauren Crimmins, co-chair of the Health and Wellness Committee. “It’s necessary for people to stop and think about what they’re going through, what they need and what they feel, and (to) learn about resources on campus.” 

Ghufran Salih and Kyle Rosenblum, SA president and vice president, are also working on a proposal to establish a peer-to-peer listening service, which they said they plan to present to SU administrators after Mental Health Awareness Week concludes. They said they hope to begin the service between fall 2019 and spring 2020.    

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This is the event schedule: 

Monday, Oct. 1 

“Kick off” on the Quad begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. The event will include inflatables, tables for various organizations and giveaways. Symbolic green ribbons will be tied to trees near the Quad. 

“Green is the official color of mental health awareness, but the most important part is to get people talking,” Rosenblum said. “I think it’s one of the most impactful events that we do on this campus. It brings to light conversations that are usually in the shadows.”  

Tuesday, Oct. 2 

SA has three events planned for Tuesday. The first event, the Art of Identity, will focus on combating the stigmas surrounding mental health and asking for help. It takes place at the Quad at noon. 

There will be therapy dogs on the Quad from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The day will end with late night yoga from 11 p.m. to midnight in the Carrier Dome.  

Wednesday, Oct. 3 

Active Minds, a student mental health organization, will bring in speakers Wendy and Steve Sefcik. They will be giving a speech titled “Remembering T.J.”, a personal account of their son’s struggle with depression and death by suicide. The talk will take place at 7 p.m. in Huntington Beard Crouse Hall.  

Thursday, Oct. 4 

There will be meditation on the Quad beginning at 6 p.m. Then, Hendricks Chapel will host a concert called “Stop the Stigma” at 7 p.m.  

The concert is a new addition to the Mental Health Awareness Week, Salih said. The concert will include various music groups, dance troupes and spoken word poetry, SA members said. It is meant to focus on mental health and resiliency, Salih added.  

Friday, Oct 5 

The final day will feature a kickball game on the Women’s Building field  from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Refreshments and prizes will also be available.  

Throughout the week 

Another weeklong event will be “Humans of Mental Health,” a photo series that will tell people’s stories of mental health and be published on the SA website.

Published on September 30, 2018 at 9:26 pm

Contact Natalie: nrrubiol@syr.edu