World Mental Health Day is an opportunity, amid all of your daily stressors and distractions, to look inward and refocus on your mental health.
This year, Boston University will observe World Mental Health Day on Thursday, October 8, with free, anonymous mental health screenings and a resource fair. But as part of the University’s Let’s Talk About Mental Health Initiative, a broader effort to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental health, it is also offering a slate of programming and services extending throughout October, from yoga with therapy dogs to a Boston-area walk with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
“For me, supporting student mental health starts with thinking about the kind of community we want BU to be,” says Kara Cattani, executive director of mental health services and director of counseling and psychiatric services. “Mental health is part of that work, and it is something none of us can do alone. It involves the environments we create, the connections we foster, and making sure students can find support when they need it.”
Free online mental health screenings are available year-round to students and faculty and staff. However, as part of World Mental Health Day, in-person screenings will take place on October 8, on both the Charles River and Medical Campuses. These two-minute, anonymous evaluations check for symptoms of anxiety and depression. After the screening, BU community members can speak with someone who will explain the results and point them to relevant resources. Student Health Services staff will also be on hand to provide additional support. Screenings will be held at George Sherman Union Plaza from 11 am to 3 pm and at the Medical Campus’ Talbot Green between 11 am and 2 pm.
These mental health screenings have proven both popular and impactful for the BU community. Last year, of the 600 people who turned out for the University’s World Mental Health Day event, 220 received a screening.
The free screenings are accompanied by resource fairs on the two campuses, where students, faculty, and staff can connect with BU mental health organizations.There will also be opportunities to build self-care kits and a “paws” and reset event, where members of the BU community can spend time with therapy dogs.
“Taking care of our mental health allows us to reach our full potential, be present for ourselves and the people who matter to us, and make space for the things we truly care about,” says Nilsu, a College of Arts & Sciences senior.
Month-long focus on mental health
The Chief Health Office is also spotlighting wellness and fostering connection through a variety of healthcare services, programs, and community events throughout the month.
“This isn’t just about clinical resources available through Student Health Services and the Faculty Staff Assistance Office, but rather BU’s broader ecosystem that supports the fundamental, protective factors for positive mental health—things like basic needs, social connection, movement, mindfulness, and more,” says Katharine Mooney, director of health promotion and prevention.
New this year is Stretch & Fetch, a gentle yoga class with Student Health Services therapy dogs. The event is free and open to all BU community members and will take place at FitRec on Tuesday, October 13.
Also new is BU’s participation in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness Walk. Students, faculty, and staff can sign up to walk with BU’s team, Terriers Together, on October 25, starting at Boston Common at 10:30 a.m., with check-in at 9 a.m.
“This is an opportunity for BU students, staff, and faculty to join with others to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and center hope and healing,” Mooney says.
Other events include courses on urban cycling and rhythmic breathing, trainings for suicide and overdose prevention, a pick-your-own pumpkin bike ride through the Emerald Necklace, community coloring events, and more.
Faculty and staff can also register for the Mental Health Summit on Thursday, October 29, in the GSU Ballroom. This year’s event focuses on how to support student mental health in complex times and features a keynote address from Mathilde Ross, a senior psychiatrist in Student Health Services and author of How to Thrive at College.
Both World Mental Health Day and the University’s month-long programming highlight the vital role that mental health supports play in the lives of the community, whether people need immediate crisis-level care or an opportunity to better connect with those around them.
“Our job is to create a community that supports mental health in everyday life while making sure that when a student is struggling, there are knowledgeable, compassionate people ready to help,” Cattani says. “There is important work we can do across the University to foster connection, belonging, resilience, and a culture in which asking for help is supported.”
Find more information about BU’s Let’s Talk About Mental initiative, including a calendar of events, here.
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Source: www.bu.edu
