Active Minds reduces stigma of mental health

By: Matt Roberts

Posted: 11/18/09

Samford is the first university in Alabama to establish a chapter of Active Minds, a non-profit organization working to utilize the student voice to change the conversation about mental health on college campuses.

Sophomore communication studies major and president of the Samford chapter Michelle McCorkle said reducing the stigma of mental health is a personal passion.

"Mental health isn't something that's just important for people who have serious mental disorders," McCorkle said. "Just like everyone has physical health, we all have mental health and I think it's something that's really not talked about much here at Samford, but it needs to be."

Last year, McCorkle took part in two events at Samford to raise awareness about mental health. Over 100 students took part in "Extend a Hand to Change the Conversation about Mental Health" by putting their handprints and writing comments on a banner that represented their voice advocating mental health as important issue on college campuses. Also, the founder of To Write Love on Her Arms, Jamie Tworkowski, spoke in Reid Chapel about "Pain, Hope, Questions and Community."

"The best ways to counteract these issues and fight stigma are through education, contact and advocacy," McCorkle said. "Our Active Minds group would like to focus, at this point, on education about mental health and contact with those who deal with issues related to mental health through the sharing of stories."

Jackie Goldstein, a psychology professor, said the organization will benefit Samford.

"I think that it's important for members of any college campus to have a good understanding of mental health and mental illness," Goldstein said. "Without that kind of understanding, conversation occurs in whispers. Myths and misunderstandings are perpetuated. With understanding, individuals can offer support to family members and friends, as well as gaining insight as to when they might need to seek professional help."

This past weekend, McCorkle attended the Active Minds 6th National Mental Health on Campus Conference in Washington, D.C., and she learned about ideas for events to implement on campus. She also heard from Alison Malmon, who founded Active Minds in 2001 following the suicide of her older brother, Brian, one year earlier. McCorkle said that many students mistake needing help for a problem with mental health as a personal weakness or a sign of a spiritual failure.

"If someone broke a bone, they wouldn't think that it was because they had drifted too far away from God," McCorkle said. "Often with mental health issues, that's the first place we go. I believe this is largely because of a lack of education, which is one reason one of the goals of Active Minds here at Samford is to educate people about mental health."

McCorkle said she has a simple aim for the chapter.

"In a nutshell, our goal is to start a conversation," McCorkle said.