Positivity, Well-Being, Help and Hope Reign as Atlantic Cape Recognizes World Mental Health Day

MAYS LANDING — Atlantic Cape Community College’s Department of Student Engagement hosted a World Mental Health Day resource fair in the Student Center lobby on the Mays Landing campus on October 10.

World Mental Health Day was originally created and observed on October 10, 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health’s then Deputy Secretary-General Mr. Richard Hunter as a yearly activity to raise global awareness about the critical mental health issues prevalent throughout today’s society. Its goal is, with a unifying voice through a collaboration with partners worldwide, enact sustainable change for the better.

Students were invited to browse the tables filled with motivational, self-help and well-being literature. Colorful wristbands with quotes of positivity were there for the taking. Stickers promoting self-worth were intended to spread a message of inclusion and hope. Stress balls, pens and other items dotted the tables too.

Atlantic Cape’s Center for Student Success provided literature about Uwill, a new-implemented, free of charge with no insurance required, user-friendly program for current students that eliminates the stigma associated with admitting that one may have a mental health issue by creating a welcoming environment for students to openly speak privately, securely and confidentially with a counselor about their crisis without bias or judgment.

The Atlantic Cape Food Pantry, which has locations on all three campuses, handed out literature describing the services they offer to students in need as well as personal hygiene kits complete with deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste and more.

Jewish Family Services of Margate offered information on counseling services available for individuals dealing with issues like anxiety, depression, divorce, trauma and unemployment.

Jared Lombardi, who is a Stockton University student and Social Work major studying to be a mental health counselor, brought his well-being business, The Positive Pursuit, to the event. With a cheer-inducing color of yellow prominent throughout his table, Lombardi spoke about his endeavor to shine a light on the dark times happening in one’s life.

“So, the Positive Pursuit was an initiative that was started during the pandemic. During the sunflower season, from June through September, I hand out sunflowers to share positivity and hope. This is a comfortable way of engaging with that population to bring them resources,” Lombardi said.

Lombardi spoke of the little-known health and mental benefits that a sunflower’s color and scent can bring to people.

“A lot of people do not know that the sunflower’s yellow color stimulates our nervous system to trigger the release of serotonin (a chemical that carries messages between nerve cells in the brain and throughout the body) in our brains,” Lombardi continued. “And the scent from a sunflower actually stimulates our nervous system to release dopamine in our brains, which helps improve our mood. So, this helps in the way of recovering from any mental health issues or problems that people may have.”

Visit atlanticcape.edu/mentalhealth for more information on mental health resources available.

About Atlantic Cape Community College

Atlantic Cape is a comprehensive two-year community college serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. The college offers over 40 career, transfer and workforce development programs to more than 8,000 students annually at three campuses in New Jersey: Atlantic City, Cape May Court House and Mays Landing.