The colder months on campus can be hard for everyone; students and staff alike. Whether you struggle with doing homework, getting to The Cafeteria for lunch, or make time to see your friends, mental health struggles is something often encounter everywhere. But is it talked about enough?

NAMI, National Alliance for Mental Illness,  is a mental health advocacy center on campus dedicated to creating a safe space on campus for student to feel comfortable about wellness. They aim to get rid of the inherent stigma of mental health and suicide through on campus activities and projects. 

“It is my goal and my hope that students to start being open about when they are going through a hard time, be aware that there is resources and people on campus who want to help,” Vivian Gaither said.

One of their most recent partnerships is with the Green Bandana Project, a suicide prevention awareness organization. In order to be properly equipped, students go through QPR (Gatekeeper) training where they learn how to appropriately converse with individuals who are facing mental health struggles. Once trained, students can tie a green bandana onto their backpacks to wear around campus.

“The goal of this project is to be a ‘safe space’ for others to entrust themselves in. This not only spreads awareness about who we are, but also signifies to students that support systems are readily available for them,” Reegan Hess said.

Other projects NAMI has worked on throughout it’s time on campus include ice cream social in honor of mental health awareness week, a DIY face masks and slime night to help students destress during finals, wearing green to spread awareness on mental health, and recently, putting red hearts signed with positive messages on cars around Quincy in order to spread love on Valentine’s Day.

“Quincy is completely different to where I’m from. It was a challenge to come here for sure. NAMI club is an amazing initiative, it offers support and resources for those struggling. I’ve learned a lot more about mental health through the NAMI club. Not only posting about it, but being a presence on campus has definitely helped,” Daniella Segall, a freshman from South Africa said.

It can be hard especially for college students to seek help, but NAMI aims to provide a space that doesn’t feel intimidating but comforting.

“Having to suppress any affects being had on your mental health can make anyone feel like an outlier amidst the rest. We are trying to accomplish the opposite: welcome conversations on mental health, let others know that they are not alone, and acknowledge and assist those in their struggles,” Hess said.

While this is a new club on campus, other students feel like its a conversation long overdue.

“We know way more about mental health now than in previous generations. I think the more we talk about it, the better it gets. And then the more we talk about it, the more people realize that they are not alone in their issues,” Vincent Olson said.

The mission of the NAMI program on campus is to take away the stigma surrounding this topic. By bringing it to campus, and implementing a variety of events, this club hopes to open the door for conversations to be had and welcomes the importance of mental health. More information on mental health resources on campus can be provided on the university website.