Mental health issues can affect anyone, regardless of age, race, gender, or sexual orientation. No matter who someone is or what his or her issue may be, there is nothing to be ashamed of.
This is the message that Margaret Bertram will be sharing with the UB community.
Active Minds UB, a group that promotes positive mental health and attempts to dispel the negative attitudes that surround mental health issues, along with UB's Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgendered Alliance, will be hosting Bertram on Wednesday night as its keynote speaker for National Eating Disorder Awareness Week.
Bertram will present a speech on her personal experiences throughout college on how she has dealt with depression, eating disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, as well as the struggles of discovering her lesbian identity. Bertram believes that mental health issues do not define who people are, nor do they allow other people the right to judge them.
"Although the stigmas that surround mental illness have waned over the years, a lot of people are still ignorant of the fact that it does affect so many people personally," said Mia Simoncelli, a freshman pre-pharmacy major. "Active Minds is working to connect people through awareness and dispel any preconceived, negative notions. Those who are suffering need a community that supports and accepts them and their illnesses –not turn their backs on them out of embarrassment or uncomfortable shame."
Active Minds serves as a place for students to come and discuss topics that people struggle with, but it also is a safe haven to discuss issues of their own. Active Minds and LGBTA feel that Bertram's talk is one that needs to be shared with the UB community as it tries to establish a sense of security and belonging for all students, especially in light of the number of suicides in the LGBTA community.
"How many people does that have that have to happen to before people who care about things like that make an effort to say something?" said Peter Williams, a senior interdisciplinary studies and psychology major and treasurer of Active Minds.
"If you just know that [problems are] normal, you feel that much less alone."
By reducing the stigmatisms that surround mental health issues, Active Minds looks to reduce the isolationism that is often created. The LGBTA also tries to dispel the isolationism that sexual orientation can create within society by being an all-inclusive group.
"It's just good to know that there are people out there who care for you for who you are and they won't judge you," said Judy Mai, a sophomore occupational therapy major and president of the LGBTA. "[The LGBTA is] a safe place [where] no one is judged for being who they are…it's not just for the LGBT; it's for their allies as well."
Bertram is someone that students can feel comfortable with, regardless of what they are going through or have experienced, because of how powerful her speeches are and her engagement with the audience.
"If there is somebody in the audience that has any one of [those issues], you can recognize yourself in what she's saying," Williams said.
One thing that Bertram, Active Minds, and the LGBTA all advocate is having someone to talk to who is willing and able to accept people for who they are. No matter what type of problem may be troubling a person, there is always someone who is able to listen.
"College can be [a difficult time] for students, especially if the student doesn't know that there are people who can help available on campus," said Kim Fenton, an outreach graduate assistant with Counseling Services and an advisor with Active Minds. "There is definitely a stigma surrounding mental health care, and I really believe in working toward a campus environment in which any students who are struggling will know support is available on campus, and feel comfortable seeking it out."
Margaret Bertram's talk will be on Wednesday night in Slee Hall at 7 p.m. There is no charge for the event.
For more information on Active Minds, visit its Facebook at Active Minds – University at Buffalo Chapter or attend its weekly meetings on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. in Baldy 113.
For more information on UB's LGBTA, its general meetings are held on Mondays at 7 p.m. in Student Union 145C, and it hosts "coming out" support groups every Thursday at 8 p.m. in SU 362.
E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
