On most school campus tours you are always showed the up-to-date, fancy, clean gym. But why is the counseling center never brought up? Some schools don’t even have a counseling center. Does admissions think that if they mention their school having a counseling center potential students will assume if they chose this school they will not be happy? The counseling center is not for people who are miserable. It’s a resource for people to use when they are struggling, know someone who is struggling or may just need to vent.
A person’s mental health is just as important as their physical health, yet mental health is never the spotlight.
This is where the Healthy Minds Club at the University of Scranton comes into play. They fight to end the stigma behind mental illness. The club held their annual Suicide Vigil on September 13th on the Dionne Green. Students of all grades came together in unity. All of them were there for slightly different reasons, but they were all there to help end the stigma.
The Suicide Vigil had a speaker from the Northeast Suicide Prevention Initiative speak to University of Scranton students about prevention and statistics. The attendees then walked around the Dionne Green 13 times with candles to represent the 13 people that die from suicide every minute. Paper bags were covered in inspiring quotes or loved one’s names who had passed away due to suicide. That night the people who lost their lives to suicide were remembered and loved.
Remember to never be afraid to ask someone how they are felling. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health.
If you or someone you know would benefit from the confidential counseling center, please contact them at 570-941-7620. All services are free of charge!