MAYS LANDING – Our lives today are dictated by society’s fast–paced busyness, making mental health awareness an important consideration that everyone needs to remain aware and vigilant of. Coping with stress and anxiety can exact an emotional toll. It is important to recognize these signs and know that there are solutions to reducing these complications.
To bring students and the free resources available to them together all in one location, Atlantic Cape Community College hosted the IMALIVE Mental Health Fair on September 8 in the Student Center lobby on the Mays Landing campus. The event coincided with 988 Day, a program that originally began as the National Hope Line Network 1 800 Suicide (now 988).
“Today’s event is to show students that they're not alone, that we can de-stigmatize mental health awareness, and that mental health services are available at the college level every day that they're here,” said Jessica Gustafson, mental health/basic needs specialist, Center for Student Success. “We also have a psychiatrist that will come to campus on an as–need basis for our students free of charge. Plus, our four academic counselors are also able to help with counseling as well.”
Atlantic Cape maintains free mental health services for its students through its partnership with Uwill, which offers free immediate access to teletherapy, a direct crisis connection, and wellness program through an easy–to–use online platform and crisis hotline.
Gustafson, despite the proliferation of mental health awareness among today’s younger population, admits that there is still a stigma attached to admitting that help, particularly in regards to suicide, is needed.
“I feel that more of the student population is opening up more to the idea of asking us for help. They are reaching out to us sooner rather than later. We try to be at every event to let our students know that we're here for them no matter what when it comes to their mental health,” said Gustafson.
Alberto Sentiago, a resident of Hammonton who is entering his third semester in the College’s Nursing Program, acknowledged that the Mental Health Fair is an important conduit for students today.
“Mental health is something that we see every day, but it's really hidden. Sometimes people can hide it better than others and you see signs, you try to ignore them, but it's something that's very important that's increasingly out of control. So, this event is good for people to be aware of what's going on” said Sentiago, who is working towards to becoming either an ICU or emergency room nurse.
While he agrees that today’s younger generation is more aware and open to discussing their personal battles with mental health, Sentiago concedes that the stigma of appearing weak for some is still an impediment.
“I think the stigma is not knowing what kind of help you need. It’s still a big taboo, like men don't cry, men don't do this, so they tend to hide more and self-inflict because they believe that you're not supposed to get help and you're not supposed to talk about your feelings,” said Sentiago. “But, with more awareness and openness, I hope that it's getting better than it was because that's why you see that men are at higher risk of suicide or self-inflicted harm than women.”
Jade Jordan, a native of Montclair, NJ now living in Atlantic City and a sophomore General Studies major, is encouraged that events such as the Mental Health Fair will give students the proverbial green light to feeling comfortable letting it all out, sharing and reaching out for help.
“Mental health services are so important today. I feel like it's prevalent because so many people deal with unsettlement in their minds, mental issues, emotional issues, spiritual issues, and a lot of them bottle things up,” said Jordan, who plans to transition into social work at a four–year college or university after graduation.
The goal of 988 Day, held annually on September 8, is to regularly raise awareness about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States and its territories. The 988 Lifeline is comprised of a national network of over 200 local crisis centers, combining local care and resources with national standards and best practices.
View a photo gallery of this event on Flickr here.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please find Atlantic Cape’s free student mental health resources at atlanticcape.edu/mentalhealth.
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About Atlantic Cape Community College
Established in 1964, Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States-accredited, Hispanic-serving institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers more than 50 undergraduate degree programs and 33 certificate and workforce development professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City, and Cape May campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and to its highly acclaimed Nursing program for more than 60 years. Atlantic Cape also partners with more than 30 colleges and four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to seamlessly earn a bachelor’s degree upon graduation.
