Event educates campus on mental health

The Mental Health Fair, held Feb. 27 on the third floor of Stover, provided an opportunity for students to learn information about mental health and its impact.

Thomas Drake, a junior business marketing major, is an international student at Waynesburg University, who attended the event to learn more information about mental illness.

“I think metal health is an important issue,” said Drake. “The religion table [was interesting]… I [found] the table on depression [informative], as well as the different aids and ways to get help with [mental health issues].”

Other students, like Kelsie Shook, freshman criminal justice major, became involved in some of the activities.

“We filled out the testimony [board], and me and my friends [signed up for] the Out of Darkness Walk,” said Shook.

The Counseling Center also had a table among the clubs and groups, run by Mary Hamilla, academic and major decision counselor.

As a counselor, this was an opportunity for students to cope with all the information concerning mental health.

“A healthy way to cope is by finding resources, taking advantage of them and not feeling stigmatized about them,” said Hamilla. “I am really excited by how many tables have been taken and how many students have come out, I’m encouraged.”

The Mental Health Fair has not taken place over the past few years.

Cassey Zadinski, junior psychology major, was inspired to bring back the event in order to help students better understand mental health and end the stigma associated with it.

Zadinski was surprised by the amount of people who attended, and their interest in mental health.

“I’m really happy with what the tables came up with,” said Zadinski. “Everyone seems to be really invested in what they have to talk about, like all the tables put a lot of effort in, which is amazing.”

With the mental health fair occurring late at night during mid-terms week, there was some concern that the turnout may not be great. The room, however, was often filled with people, and for Zadinski, this was a happy sight to see.

“I’m happy with the turnout. I was really scared we would get absolutely no one,” Zadinski said. “We have people out there making stress balls and people at all the tables.”

The message and the goal of the event was to raise awareness, along with refuting myths of mental health.

All the tables had information and items that could help with mental illness, and that’s what Zadinski wanted to accomplish.

“I really want people who have struggled with any of these topics to know that diagnosis isn’t the end of a story,” Zadinski said. “It’s the beginning. They are worthy, they matter and they have a place in this world, and there are way more people around that struggle with these things.”

Zadinski has plans to help set up the Mental Health Fair next year, and also wants to help teach someone what organizing the event entails in order to ensure it becomes a continuing tradition after she graduates.