WSA, GSA look to break down stigma, highlight resources with Mental Health Week

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Broncos lift each other up. That's the message from the Western Student Association (WSA) and Graduate Student Association (GSA) as they partner for Mental Health Week.

"This pandemic has taken so much away from communities," says Matt Carl, GSA director of outreach. "I think this Mental Health Week can really be the spark that ignites the sense of community at Western that we always had and really get it going again."

"Broncos really do take the lead, and we're changemakers. But we also really care about students; we care about our faculty, our staff, our guests," adds Charles Poole III, WSA vice president for community involvement. "You can walk down Sangren Plaza and people will just say "Hi" or smile at you. You literally get a welcoming feeling wherever you go. And I think Mental Health Week really hones in on that."

From cuddling with therapy dogs and dancing with friends at Zumba to professional panel discussions, a number of events are planned for the week, which runs Monday, April 4, through Friday, April 8. A complete schedule of the week's events is available online. The goal is to help students relax, boost spirits and break down the stigmas surrounding mental health.

"Especially in the last two years, mental health has been on a decline for students; isolation has increased, which commonly leads to feelings of depression and anxiety," says Carl, who is pursuing a master's degree in social work specializing in clinical therapy. "The support that we can provide as student government is extremely important, and I think that this week shines a light on the importance of mental health and what students can do to support other students."

It's important, says Poole, for students to understand they don't have to go through anything alone.

"I think it comes down to societal pressures from what we see on social media, what we see with cyberbullying, what we see in politics. All that ties in to why students might not feel comfortable or don't think they have the power to really speak up and get the help they deserve," he says. "I think by students taking the lead on this and showing that it's okay and breaking down these stigmas, it really does break down that barrier."

Well-being is a primary focus at the University, working to holistically support students throughout their college journey and equip them with the tools they need for a life well-lived. All Western, students have access to WellTrack, a self-help app with a number of tools and resources aimed at managing mental health, as well as YOU at Western, a holistic web platform focused on well-being and supporting all aspects of the student experience. WSA and GSA hope to expand awareness of all of the resources available to students long after Mental Health Week ends.

"If a big institution like Western is able to get behind students and see this as a very predominant issue, that sets a precedent for other universities, other institutions throughout the country," says Poole. "We just did a student government conference (with other institutions) and one of the topics was mental health. We were one of the few—if not the only—institutions that really does anything like this."

"There are so many different resources across our community. If we can condense it and put it in a single area in an accessible way that students can see and understand the resources at their fingertips, that limits the barrier to care," Carl adds.

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