Content warning: This article talks about mental health and suicide. If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health, please seek help.
More than 100 people registered for the Central Iowa National Alliance for Mental Health Walk on Saturday on North Grand Mall.
NAMIWalks is a series of events by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to raise funds and awareness for mental health programs and services for people in need. NAMIWalks’ goal is to achieve “mental health for all.” Anyone can take part in a walk, whether it’s for themselves or a loved one.
Joshua Ginn, who founded a support group through NAMI, joined his friends to advocate for mental health issues and stigma.
“People need inclusion and support. We are here to support each other,” Ginn said. “People who suffer from mental illness can still have strong feelings and make great contributions to society. To bring value to life, people need to care about others.”
Many volunteered to help with the event and NAMI on Campus, a student organization dedicated to addressing mental health issues at Iowa State by providing resources to students and educating the community about mental health. I participated as a
Ashley Danner, vice president of NAMI on Campus and a third-year student studying English, said the resources NAMI provides are a great first step to getting help for emotional struggles.
“I feel like a lot of students hide their mental struggles because they think it’s normal. I think the first step to opening yourself up to them is trying counseling or therapy,” Danner says. the professor said. “It’s just trying to realize that sometimes you’re not okay and it’s okay to ask for help and seek resources from groups like NAMI.”
and Laura, owner and founder of Words Worth Replying, a service that creates customized books for children based on situations that children are too young to understand, such as mental health, grief, and family issues. Camerona also participated.
“Mental health is very interesting because people think of mental health as a mental illness, but mental health is no different than physical health,” Camerona said. “Just like your body, there are small things you can do to help your brain and mental health, such as daily habits.”
Camerona said being yourself both online and in person is a great way to break down the stigma around mental health, and to teach young children that it’s okay to talk about mental health. Ta.
“There are many things we can do to reduce bias, including being honest and showing our true selves on social media and in person, and if we do or teach something else. Similarly, starting children to talk about mental health at a young age will teach them how to feel good about themselves, and they will feel comfortable talking about it as adults. ” Camerona said.
Resources, support groups, and other information about NAMI and NAMIWalks are available on our website.
If you are struggling with mental illness or need mental health support, you are not alone.
Call or text the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988, contact Student Counseling Services at 515-294-5056, or visit our website.
