World Mental Health Day is Oct. 10. Three events are planned throughout the day for students, faculty and staff to attend, held in the Central Academic Building.
Megan Pope, communication lecturer at Texas A&M University-San Antonio and co-organizer, will attend all three events.
“I wanted to do something on campus to bring awareness and honor any of the students, faculty and staff who have had mental health issues,” Pope said. “It’s often a silent struggle, so I wanted to create something where we can have community and offer support.”
The first event, “Stop the Stigma: Sharing your Story Clothesline,” will happen 10-11 a.m. in the Central Academic Building bookstore lobby. Students will be able to share their story anonymously or write words of encouragement for others.
The second event, “You Are Not Alone: Mental Health Open Mic,” will happen 11 a.m.-noon in the Vista Room on the fourth floor of CAB, where attendees can share their story, song or poem about their mental health journey.
The third event, “Practicing Mental Health Skills: Yoga, Writing and Meditation,” will take place 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Vista Room.
“I wanted to create something where if I had been struggling or felt alone, what would be an event that I would have wanted to go to? So that’s what I created,” Pope said. ”And also, it was important to me that it wasn’t just for students, it’s for faculty and staff also.”
Pope said she wants the campus to be a safe space for everyone to talk about mental health and not feel afraid of opening up to someone else if they’re struggling. She wants people to know they’re not alone.
Pope also said she would love to continue doing more events catering to mental health and spreading awareness on meditation focused on mindfulness.
For more information, go here.
