By: Sarah Tewksbury, Editor-in-Chief
Sunday, Sept. 24 at 9 a.m. the USM National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) campus group will participate in the 15th annual Maine NAMI Walk. Each year, NAMI hosts walks across the country as a way to spread awareness for the group’s mission while simultaneously fundraising.
The University of Maine System’s (UMS) first NAMI on Campus is currently found at USM and is led by junior nursing student, Jessica Fossett. In May, Fossett was able to officially form the NAMI on Campus by going through the application process with the Student Senate. Housed in the Recovery On Campus Center (ROCC), NAMI on Campus focuses on building a support system of USM peers for individuals who have or are currently facing a mental health condition.
According to the NAMI on Campus website, located on USM’s ROCC webpage, “… challenges [associated with college] are even more difficult for the 1 in 5 students who also face a mental health condition. Nearly three-quarters of mental health conditions emerge by age 24, so many college students are facing mental health concerns for the first time, and may not know where to go for support.” The staggering numbers of students facing mental health issues has greatly contributed to the support NAMI on Campus has received from USM faculty and staff.
“I’ve actually been pleasantly surprised by the amount of interest and enthusiasm in the NAMI program from peers,” said Fossett. “USM staff support has been phenomenal. And the the State NAMI organization has been a great resource as well! Mostly I’m really pleased with the interest in the club this far and glad that I can be a part of bringing it to USM.”
As a group, NAMI on Campus works to “end the stigma that makes it hard for students to talk about mental health and get the help they need.” By holding club meetings that focus on creativity, individuals participating at USM are able to build their support systems in a safe and healthy manner. Besides building a peer support system, NAMI on Campus also offers students educational and informative events to help reduce the stigma around mental health issues. Spreading awareness in order to benefit those facing mental illnesses has come in many forms, such as tabling, hosting events and even attending the Maine NAMI Walk.
USM’s chapter of NAMI on Campus will send a group of students to participate in the Maine NAMI Walk in order to spread awareness, promote interest and to help students reap the benefits of a peer focused support system. NAMI on Campus member, Alex Shaffer, reported that between five and ten USM students will participate in the walk but that there will likely be hundreds of Maine NAMI members present.
To date, NAMI on Campus has raised $50 to donate to the fundraising opportunity organized around the Maine NAMI Walk. Shaffer noted that fundraising will not end for over a month so there will be opportunities to increase the amount collected. Shaffer also encouraged USM students, faculty and affiliates to become more involved in the group.
“I would like to invite anyone who is interested more in joining the club to visit the ROCC to learn more about it,” said Shaffer. “If they are available to attend the walk than they should try to, it is the biggest event in this area for supporting mental health and raising awareness.”