Mental Health Awareness

If you are a college student one of the most important things to maintain is good mental health. This is the time in your young life when you discover things about yourself such as how you handle stress and anxiety. You will be tested mentally and physically on how you problem solve and cope with adulthood. This can be a terrifying thought and for some individuals it can be a seemingly hopeless one. 

It's important to know if you are struggling you are not alone in your journey. Tomorrow, Thursday, November 14 at 6 p.m. Ohio Northern University will be hosting a guest speaker in McIntosh Ballroom on mental health awareness. Hakeem Rahim is currently on his "I Am Acceptance Tour" and will share his story about his journey with mental illness which started his freshman year at Harvard. Hakeem has gone on to complete a dual master's degree, has testified in front of Congress to promote mental health needs and is a published author. The purpose of the tour is dedicated to stigmatizing mental illness and empowering college students to take full control of their mental health. 

Each year, three out of four college students report experiencing a mental health crisis on campus. By encouraging students to learn to acknowledge and speak about their mental health experiences a new reality develops where these conversations are normalized. It's also important to normalize seeking out help if you are struggling with mental health or negative thoughts. I will be attending this event because I wish to know as much as I can about mental health awareness so I can help myself and others.