In conjunction with the launching of the We Are U.P.S. (United to Prevent Suicide) Campaign, the Student Health and Counseling Services, SHCS, hosted an event called “A Voice” on Wednesday, Sept. 11.
The event featured a panel of three who answered questions about their experiences with mental health. The panel was comprised of Morgan Robertson for the GLBT community on campus, Felisha Jones who represented the Greek community on campus and Michael Cochran who represented the community on campus involved in the military.
Each panel member had a different story about his or her experience with mental health. Each had advice of his or her own to share with the audience as well.
“You have to just let some things go,” Jones said.
Jones said she was introduced to mental health issues at an early age. She witnessed issues within her family as early as middle school when her mother showed signs of being ill.
Cochran’s experience with it was vastly different than Jones’. Cochran says he was raised during a time when “men weren’t allowed to have feelings.” He chose a career in the military where he says people definitely weren’t supposed to show their struggles.
“You don’t cry out for help in the military … I’ve seen a lot of accidents that weren’t accidents,” Cochran said.
He went into a field in the military field where again if he questioned his stability at all, they would have taken away his level of security clearance. This would, in turn, have prevented him from doing his job. Cochran says that eventually he decided his mental health was more important than the job he was doing.
Robertson’s experience was different than both of the other panel members as well. She says she spent most of her life hiding behind video games. She would go to school and home and spend the day alone playing video games.
“I did not deal with others,” Robertson said.
While each panel member’s experience varied, they seemed to have one central piece of advice. Jones told the audience “it gets better.” Cochran’s advice was to “never give up” while Robertson’s advice was to find “someone who will listen” and talk to one person. Robertson said that it gets easier after telling even just one person.
Cochran offered the audience a bit of advice he was given while in high school. He said one of his coaches told him “each morning when you wake up, you put on a sign. The sign says, ‘I am loving and capable.’ Throughout the day, people tear away at the sign. At the end of the day you have to tape the sign back together for the next day. Eventually, the sign has so much tape on it that people can’t tear it anymore.”
Jones told the audience that not only is seeking help important, but also being help. She encouraged the audience to look for signs in their friends and be the help that person needs.
“Seeking help and being help is important,” Jones said.
Cochran reminded the audience that everyone needs a friend. He said that 90 percent of people just need someone to listen to them.
“Everybody needs a friend; sometimes the only friend you can find is a counselor. … Yes, you are paying them, but they will listen,” Cochran said.
Throughout the week, the SHCS has hosted different events. On Friday, Sept. 13 they will wrap up their week with “A Reason to Live,” which will take place outside between the UC and the Paul Meek Library. This event will be held from noon- 1 p.m.
For more information on counseling services, contact SHCS at 731-881-7750. For more information on the “A Reason to Live” event, contact John’Na Webster at 731-881-7869.
