Mental illness affects the lives of thousands of students. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students averaging about 1,100 a year.
Troubled by her brother Brian’s suicide, Alison Malmon was puzzled by how few people talked about mental health issues. Two years after Brian’s passing, Malmon created Open Minds, a mental health group at the University of Pennsylvania her junior year. The first year was such a success that the Active Minds program was created the following year. Over a decade later, 404 schools have an Active Minds Chapters. Cabrini College is one of them.
On Tuesday, Sept. 29, Cabrini was fortunate enough to have one of the twelve members of the Speakers Bureau come and give a presentation. Each of these speakers told stories of their lives in hopes to let others know they are not alone and, ultimately, lower the suicide rate.
Stacy Pershall has struggled with mental illness since her college years. In an attempt to control her out-of-control emotions she turned to anorexia and bulimia, then later body modification. Pershall jokingly said, “I looked normal until grad school,” in response to her many tattoos.
Pershall was later diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and eating disorders. “It took lots of teasing out to get the appropriate treatment,” Pershall said.
Pershall asked that if you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, please contact the Counseling and Psychological Service facilities in Grace Hall. Mental health includes anxiety disorder, depression, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, personality disorder, schizophrenia and substance abuse/addiction.
This is just the first events that Cabrini’s Active Minds Chapter will hold this year. All information on events will be posted on Cabrini’s Active Minds page.
Mental illness may sometimes make one feel alone. It may even seem forbidden to talk about. Groups like Active Minds fight to remove the stigmas surrounding mental illness. It works to bring awareness to these issues.
