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A spirit that is not afraid

Mental Health Week set for this week

SGA is working to raise awareness about mental health and make sure students suffering know where they can get help here at Auburn.

Taylor Wesley, SGA health and wellness director, said the event will kick off Monday, March 28, at Langdon Hall from 6–8 p.m., where TED Talk speaker, Jo Harvey, will be present, and student testimonials will take place.

“The purpose of the week is to create ‘wealth’ in positive thought, action and mental health awareness,” Wesley said. “One in four people struggle with mental health, which is around 7,000 Auburn students.”

Tuesday will be about QPR [Question, Persuade and Refer] training, and there will be a free rec class called “athletic conditioning” at 2 p.m., according to Wesley.

Wesley said there will be QPR training in Student Center Room 2222 from 7–8 p.m., which means to question, persuade and refer someone who is struggling or may be contemplating suicide.

“We want to make it easier and more comfortable for the students to seek help and not be afraid to talk about what they are struggling with,” Wesley said.

On Wednesday there will Green Dot training from 4–8 p.m. in the Student Center to eliminate a violent culture and an Active Minds benefit night at Newks from 5–7 p.m., according to Wesley.

Wesley said there is too much silence surrounding the stigma of mental health.

“The stigma surrounding mental health deters people from seeking the help they need, and we need to break that stigma,” Wesley said. “One thousand, one hundred college students take their lives each year because they don’t know where to turn to or that people even want to help.”

Thursday, the last day of mental health week, will have a visual tour of why life matters called “Send Silence Packing” in the Student Center from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. and another free rec class called “breathing” at 6:30 p.m., according to Wesley.

“Auburn students can come together to help raise awareness and promote wealth on Auburn’s campus in hopes to help those struggling,” Wesley said.

Wesley said her goal is to get students to speak out during this mental health week.

“Our staff will be out on the concourse Monday through Thursday this week promoting our campaign #ReasonsISpeak, which is an opportunity for students to share why they speak up about mental health,” Wesley said.


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