|
What do masks, puppies, bands and a piñata all have in common?
They all helped raise awareness about mental health issues on campus in the name of "Mardi Gras 'Madness'" - an event held by the University affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Thursday night at the Rutgers Student Center.
NAMI-Rutgers is based on the national, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for those affected by mental illnesses. NAMI-Rutgers provides support for students facing mental illness, reaches out to family members and friends of those who have mental illnesses and advocates for improvements to the campus mental health care system.
The members of the organization also strive to educate the campus community about mental health issues, promote early detection and intervention and combat the stigma surrounding these psychiatric disorders with events such as "Mardi Gras 'Madness.'"
The live musical stylings of local bands - including Beale Street Love, The Odessa Steps, Pasadena and Roman Numeral 10 - filled the Red Lion Café as attendees participated in arts and crafts, played with puppies and posed for photos with friends in a Mardi Gras backdrop.
Many of the activities were interwoven with symbolic mental health themes.
The arts and crafts table bustled with Mardi Gras mask decorating. "Oftentimes people with mental illness feel as though they have to hide what they're going through because society won't accept their illness," NAMI-Rutgers President and Rutgers College junior Stacy Hollingsworth said.
"Typically, the 'mask' that is worn is not something they're proud of - it's merely out of necessity," Hollingsworth said. "We wanted to include a fun symbolic activity where students could decorate a mask they could be proud of."
Hollingsworth founded the Rutgers affiliate of NAMI a year ago after finding her own path to recovery from a severe case of depression.
"My hellish experience with depression has motivated me to help other students going through similar challenges," said Hollingsworth. "Since then, I feel as though I have a second chance at life. There is so much that can be done to help people who suffer with mental illness - I'm just doing my part."
Dina Graziano, NAMI-Rutgers program coordinator and Rutgers College senior, said the seeing eye puppies at the event help people with physical rather than mental disabilities, but their presence made it seem "a bit more real."
One speaker, a Rutgers University alumna, explained the significance of NAMI through her personal experience with mental illness when she began college. After feeling as though she could not participate in normal, everyday things at school, she was able to find the help she needed in the accepting and understanding atmosphere of the University.
"Recovery is always possible," she said. "This is something everyone can get through."
The speaker wanted to share her own experience because she felt it was important that people talk about mental illness. "People all around us are suffering from these illnesses. I want other people to feel that it is okay to talk about it, because the more people realize mental illness is not something to be ashamed of, the more people realize they can work through it."
The alumna is now on the NAMI-Rutgers Advisory Board - consisting of numerous University faculty and staff members - devoted to improving the University experience for students who are suffering from mental illnesses.
Donations contributed by attendees helped raise almost $700 in the last week.
The amount, which will be matched by Sam's Club on Route 18 in New Brunswick, will go towards NAMI-Rutgers' major effort next year to improve the University's mental health services and access to these services.
The group is currently seeking students interested in filling out surveys on a variety of issues - including centralization of mental health services, impact of mental health issues on academic performance, medical leave and psychiatric disability accommodations - to provide the University with feedback and to help determine the best way their funds can be spent.
Those interested should contact NAMI-Rutgers at namirutgers@yahoo.com.
|
