North Central College strives to make a change with the creation of PHAME, its independently run mental health advocacy group, and there’s been a lot of excitement in introducing the organization to the campus community.
The organization is in its first full school year as an entity on campus and its members are still looking to make it more widely known. The name itself makes identifying the organization less discernable.
“PHAME stands for Positive Healthy Active Minds Evolving,” Leila Azarbad, the student-run organization’s faculty adviser. “The name of the organization actually came from the student themselves.”
There is a national-level organization called Active Minds that has the same mission as PHAME.
“We sort of decided to create our version of Active Minds,” Azarbad said. “At one of our early meetings, we had people brainstorm names for this organization. I think the students really wanted it focused on something positive and to emphasize that it’s health-based not necessarily illness-based.”
Although PHAME’s mission holds strong ties to Active Minds, the student-run organization operates independently.
“We are not affiliated with Active Minds,” Azarbad said. “We definitely have the same mission as them. We don’t receive any outside funding. We decided to create our own in-house version of Active Minds because the national organization has a lot of rules and regulations and requirements in terms of fundraising.”
There are a number of different bodies on campus already working to address issues of health and mental health. The Dyson Wellness Center and its Peer Health Educators offer programming and outreach efforts for mental health, for example.
Azarbad refuted the concern of needing to affiliate the college with a national-level organization. “We are not bound by any outside organizations. This is all NCC-based.”
The organization’s success so far can be attributed to students and their promotional efforts.
“So far I think the group has done a great job of making PHAME more visible,” Azarbad said. “A lot of the efforts this year have been on making a name for ourselves, letting people know we’re out there, and holding some events.”
The organization has teamed up with the Dyson Wellness Center to bring events to the campus community such as a Dyson Dog Days and stress relief nights, just to name a few.
PHAME Co-President Sara Bacon revealed details on what the organization is planning to do next.
“Week 5 of this term we will be collecting swipes at Kauffman and packing lunches for those in the Naperville area who can benefit from them,” Bacon said.
Azarbad said having students spearhead the effort makes more of a statement than any other previous attempt to promote awareness and build understanding.
“The other thing I love is that by having students lead the ship so to speak,” Azarbad said. “Students know what other students need and want, I think more so than I would as faculty member and a psychologist because they’re in it day to day.”
The effort to promote mental health awareness is due in part to students and their interest but also a change in the college’s culture.
At a recent meeting, the mental health needs of students were addressed. Director of Dyson Wellness Center Tatiana Sifri gave a presentation to faculty on campus where she discussed the general trends in their data.
“And the general trend in there data is that mental health needs have been significantly growing over the last few years,” Azarbad said of Sifri’s discussion. “Ten, fifteen, twenty years ago and beyond, there was huge, huge, immense stigma around even visiting the counseling center, and certainly there is perhaps still stigma today. However, my perception, Dyson Wellness’ perception and the perception of many faculty and students is that it is more widely accepted, that it is ok, it is going to be helpful. I think we have made some strives in terms of reducing stigma.”
The excitement surrounding PHAME is nothing all that new considering the North Central’s pre-existing efforts to promote mental health awareness, but there has been a notable change in the college’s culture too.
“I think there’s been this movement over time, which is really refreshing. Because I think the people who were hesitant before will feel a little more comfortable seeking help if they need it.”
For more information on PHAME, students can email PHAME Co-President Sara Bacon at smbacon@noctrl.edu.
