stig·ma
ˈstiɡmə/
noun
noun: stigma; plural noun: stigmata; plural noun: stigmas
1. a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.
If mental illness has affected your life or the life of someone important to you, you should know about Lasell College’s Active Minds. For those of you who don’t know, Active Minds is a group determined to end the stigma around mental illness and promote positive living. This community is empowering students on our campus, and campuses across the nation, to speak up about their mental illnesses to educate their peers, and promote awareness and resources for those who need help but aren’t sure how to go about getting it. Active Minds provides a wealth of knowledge to students everywhere but the most important message they share: you are not alone.
Mental illness is, and always has been, a touchy subject. Not many people know how to approach it or what to do about it when a friend tries to seek your help. Through activities like the Semi Colon project, To Write Love on Her Arms, Walk the Night, and Love Your Body campaigns, Active Minds is creating a safe place where students can go to be educated and be surrounded by positivity and love.
The shame around the infamous “Freshman 15” has touched college students all across the country and feeds into a feeling of inadequacy when it comes to our bodies. On the surface, eating disorders appear to be a physical issue but it’s a disease that’s much more than skin deep. Eating disorders are just as much psychological as they are physical. With national eating disorder awareness week quickly approaching (Sunday February 21st to Saturday February 27th), Active Minds is providing informational activities to teach you the signs and symptoms of eating disorders and how you can do your part to help a friend in need.
Here are three important tips Active Minds wants you to know:
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Watch your language. What you may perceive as a compliment can be heard in different contexts for someone with an eating disorder. When you say “You look good, have you lost weight?” they may appreciate the comment momentarily, but they could think that you thought they were overweight before. What may seem like a harmless comment to you, can reinforce and enable “faulty logic”.
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Know the signs. If you notice depression, anxiety, self inflicting comments about him or herself, avoidance of social situations revolving around eating, or a dramatic weight loss or gain in a short period of time, you may want to reach out to your friend and express your concern.
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Reach Out. Make sure that you approach the situation delicately, you are there to help and support him or her, not make them feel badly about their habits. Show your friend support and connect them with the appropriate professional resources.
Active Minds and Her Campus extends a friendly reminder to put your personal health before others. Like attaching your own oxygen mask before helping others, you must take care of yourself before you can take care of the people you care about. Always remember that you are not alone and there is always someone there to help, call 1-800-273-TALK to reach out to a trained counselor.