By The Keystone Newspaper Event promotes mental health resources available to campus community
By Siobhan Houghton
On Oct. 10, KU’s Disability Services Office hosted an event on the MSU lawn to bring awareness to mental health resources available to the campus community.
Photo Credit: Crisis Text Line
The event was attended by students, staff, and faculty. It was a collaborative effort of DSO and several other departments including Public Safety, the Multicultural Center, and the Office of Student Assistance.
Each booth held its activity and provided some information on how they are there to help students with mental health.
DSO provided self-care sheets and plants for students to de-stress with and information on mental health issues. Another booth provided coloring pages for students.
The Office of Student Assistance provided “neurospicy” bingo cards to assess if the individual might be neurodivergent. The Office also said that they are there to help with triage in every aspect from the need for tutoring or to help if there are issues at home.
The Multicultural Center had attendees spin a wheel for a prize or make a sand balloon stress pet.
Public Safety provided candy and was there to answer questions about how they can help students. Lt. Soom of KUPD stated that all of their officers are trained in crisis response and if needed they can put students in touch with “mental health professionals which would be counseling services on campus or Holcomb crisis which is a phone call away.”
The Student Government Board was there as well with information on who they are and what they do, which includes town halls to hear the concerns of students. They highlighted that they got the Counseling Center hours extended last semester and that later this semester they are sponsoring a safety walk around campus to improve student safety.
Anaya, a freshman, said her favorite part of the event were the different booths and that the event had “bubbles and plants.”
Representatives from Crisis Text Line were there as well sharing that they are available for crisis response but that they are also available for everyday support. The Text Crisis Line can be reached by texting “SCHOOL” to 741741.
World Mental Health Day was part of larger global efforts by the World Health Organization. According to the WHO website, “World Mental Health Day 2023 is an opportunity for people and communities to unite behind the theme ‘Mental health is a universal human right’ to improve knowledge, raise awareness and drive actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health as a universal human right.”
Individuals in need of immediate assistance can reach out to the Health and Wellness Center, Public Safety, or a trusted staff or faculty member.