Looking for a post-midterm stress reliever? Mental Health Awareness Week has plenty of offerings.
Active Minds, Penn's mental health advocacy group, hopes to bring mental health issues to the forefront of students' minds by hosting everything from workshops and lectures to more hands-on activities, like chalking the walk and holding rounds of Quizzo at Cavanaugh's.
Active Minds, a nationwide organization that spreads mental health awareness was created by a Penn junior in 2001 whose brother committed suicide. The Penn chapter's main yearly event is the Mental Health Awareness Week.
This year, the group tried to appeal to different students by organizing all types of events, said College junior Heather Berstein, Active Minds president.
"We hope people will take some time out - a mental breather of sorts - and learn a little about issues that can possibly effect us all," said College freshman Tony Thieu, an Active Minds member and organizer of some of the week's events.
Thieu added that it's especially important to create awareness among college students since many disorders start exhibiting symptoms during university years.
"It's something that impacts every individual," said College junior and event organizer Anya Mezina, citing drugs, academics and other factors as negatively impacting students. "It's good that people feel that they can talk about it and that they can learn more about it."
The week kicked off with a 2.5 mile 'Stomp Out Stigma' run around campus. Active Minds registered at least 60 runners and raised over $500 to benefit the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania. The success at Sunday's run has built momentum for the rest of the week.
The keynote address - given yesterday by Psychiatry research fellow Paul Grant - marked the week's first academic foray into mental health.
Tonight, the group will host a How to Help a Friend Panel, which will feature five to six panelists, including representatives from Counseling and Psychological Services and the Reach-A-Peer hotline, who will tell personal stories about seeking help and give advice on helping friends in difficult situations.
The week continues with a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy workshop, which will provide students with tips for stress reduction, and an information fair, at which CAPS representatives will answer questions.
Other groups will contribute to the week, including Healthy Living Task Force and RAP-Line.
"Hopefully if students see that there are many groups and people dedicated to this purpose, they will be more interested in learning more about it," said College junior Jessica Kansky, an Active Minds member and event organizer.
