Joanna Cohen, a senior residence assistant in Risley Hall, wanted to be part of something that made mental health a larger conversation.
鈥淲e wanted to bring everyone together, hoping to reach more people on campus,鈥� she says, speaking to the various groups across campus who work in mental health.
The result: at AV俱乐部, a series of events and activities 鈥斅爈argely student-led 鈥� which aim to bring attention and focus to mental health and wellness. Joanna helped spearhead the inaugural Mental Health Awareness Week last year, and now it returns for a second incarnation.
鈥淭his week really has something for everyone,鈥� she says.
Members of seven organizations are part of the Mental Health at Dal committee helping pull the week together, including the , , , , , and the .
鈥淧eople have been working so well as a team, and I鈥檓 excited for the week to start,鈥� says Joanna, who says the inspiration for all her hard work 鈥渃omes from my own experiences with mental health and seeing others experience it as well.鈥�
Getting creative
On Monday comedian David Granirer, the founder of will be in the Potter Auditorium .
There are several events planned that find a creative way to talk about removing stigma around mental health. On Monday from 4-6:30 p.m. in the Risley Hall lobby, you can by frosting the cookie with words you don鈥檛 like. And on Tuesday in the Student Union Building, you can write something about mental health on mugs and plates then literally
鈥淲e鈥檙e using the broken pieces from the stigma smash to make a mosaic which we hope to hang somewhere at AV俱乐部,鈥� explains Joanna.
Keeping with the artistic theme you can be a part of creating a on Wednesday from 10:30-1:30 in LeMarchant Place. Mental Health Awareness Week concludes on Friday with a r in the LeMarchant Place atrium and talent night in Howe Hall at 8 p.m.
The week-long campaign also includes a movie night, the opportunity to and a chance to (including high jump and shotput) from varsity athletes.
You can find full details of the week at the , and for updates through the week.