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Stacy Hollingsworth, the founder and president of the National Alliance on Mental Illness's University affiliate, joined the ranks for the mtvU campaign "Half of Us" with the likes of some of today's biggest names in music.
Set to debut April 2 on HalfofUs.com, the campaign's revamped Web site will feature Hollingsworth's interview along with those of other students and celebrities - Mary J. Blige, Nelly Furtado, Max Bemis of Say Anything and Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy - who share their personal battles with mental health issues.
An mtvU representative contacted Stacy Hollingsworth, a Rutgers College junior, after reading an article in The New York Times - as well as one in The Daily Targum - on how she began Rutgers-NAMI last year after learning how to cope with her depression while adjusting to college life.
"They literally just called me up one day asking if I was interested in participating in an interview for their 'Half of Us' campaign," Hollingsworth said. "It sounded like a really good cause, so I jumped on it."
"Half of Us" is described as the joint campaign of mtvU and The Jed Foundation, which was launched in November 2006 in an attempt to reduce the student suicide rate, fight the stigma of mental health on college campuses and connect students to the help they need.
On Friday, Hollingsworth traveled into New York City and was interviewed on camera to be featured on HalfofUs.com, which also includes school-specific and national resources, an anonymous screening tool for a range of emotional disorders, and opportunities for interactivity and expression.
Hollingsworth's interview focused on her battle with major chronic depression and the struggle with suicidal thoughts which accompanied it, she said. She also spoke about certain experiences it encompassed - such as concerns she once had over telling her parents - as a result of the societal stigma associated with the mental illness.
For an interview which some may assume would be rather uncomfortable, Hollingsworth noted it was quite the opposite experience for her. "You get to the point of the interview where you just forget about the hot lights beaming on your face, the microphone tickling your chest, and the camera recording your every move, and you simply share your story as if you were alone in a room with a close friend," Hollingsworth said.
Head of communications for mtvU Jason Rzepka said students like Hollingsworth are critical to the success of the campaign.
"We saw through research that there is a real stigma associated with mental illness and many students are grappling with the issue of mental health," Rzepka said. "They feel alone, and they don't know where to turn for help."
Rzepka explained they decided to introduce the campaign to connect students to their mental health resources on campus, allow them to find whatever information they needed for help and let them know they are not alone.
"Half of Us" is named for the fact that nearly half of all college students felt so depressed in the last school year they could not function. Broadcasted to 750 colleges - reaching over two million college students - and they are using mtvU to get the message of "Half of Us" out.
The interviews collected on depression, bipolar disorder and suicidal thoughts will be combined with information on how college students can access the help they need, mental health-related music videos and student-submitted testimonials to create 30-minute commercial free episodes - as well as a series of Public Service Announcements - which will run on mtvU and its website, mtvU.com, over the course of the semester.
In a CP NewsLink chat session yesterday, Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy spoke about his involvement in the campaign as well as his hard times as he dealt with depression and suicidal thoughts.
Wentz said it is important to talk about suicide and mental health issues - especially on college campuses because students are often isolated and under pressure.
"I feel like sometimes people think it's not normal or they are all alone. You need a support structure," Wentz said.
Wentz was asked about how he dealt with his depression in the midst of recording, performing and trying to jump start his career.
"Not very well," Wentz said. "I secluded myself. I refused to get on airplanes or buses. I stopped talking to all of my friends completely. I pretty much broke down in front of everyone but in a very secretive way."
Wentz said his band helped him through it unknowingly, for the most part, but helped by just being good friends to him.
"If it weren't for them, I don't know where I'd be - bouncing into padded walls probably," he said
In terms of helping someone who is suffering from depression, Wentz said he does not think you can really reach out to the person - they need to reach out to you. He said the best thing is to let them know you are there for them but not be overbearing.
"I hope it makes people know that it's okay to feel blue and down," Wentz said, in regards to his coming forward for the campaign and speaking out about his struggles. "It's also ok to find something as an outlet for it."
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