Students think #youmatter

Mental health issues are prevalent on college campuses.

According to a study by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), more than 25% of college students have been diagnosed or treated by a professional for a mental health condition within the past year. Among the most difficult mental health issues facing college students are anxiety and depression.

One NCC student wanted to end the stigma and remind everyone that they matter. Reagan Quynn,’19, began the #youmatter campaign after talking with her peers about mental health.

“It sort of came out of a conversation about how there are such high rates of suicide among college students and also a general climate of dehumanizing other people, especially people who aren’t like you or have different opinions or values from your own,” she said.

Quynn thought about what she could do to “combat those narratives and send a basic message that we all matter because we are all humans.”

On average, colleges see one thousand lives lost to suicide a year. Suicide is the second most common cause of death among college students according to research from the American College Health Association (ACHA). Because suicide rates among young adults (ages 15-24) have tripled since the 1950s, college campuses have taken action to provide resources for mental health.

For Quynn, the #youmatter campaign is simple. By taking the pledge, a person is recognizing that their life is worth living. Quynn said, “The campaign is sort of like a reminder to each and every one of us that we all matter and have value. Part of it is the pledge and so members of the community who take the pledge are making a commitment to recognizing and honoring that value not only within themselves but within others.”

The campaign is based on four pledges that Quynn wrote herself:

1. I pledge to respect myself and my journey, as I work to be the most authentic version of myself.

2. I pledge to treat myself with compassion: reducing negative self-talk and recognizing the importance of physical and mental health.

3. I pledge to recognize and understand that others matter and their journeys are filled with factors I may not be aware of or understand but that deserve my empathy rather than my judgment.

4. I pledge to value myself and others for who we all are and make a commitment to raising myself and others up.

After you take the pledge, you will receive a sticker as a visual message to others that you have taken the pledge and are a part of the movement. Faculty and students have put the stickers on their windows and doors to show their love and support.

The overall reaction to the campaign has been positive. Quynn and her friends (Kenny Miller, Rebecca Rogers, Caleb Swick and Julianna Kleck) made a launch video. Shortly after, different campus organizations shared it on Facebook to get the word out.

The stigma of mental health has led people to feel ashamed for something that is not in their control. By opening up about mental health through healthy, educational conversations, the stigma has been reduced in recent years.

Quynn wants to tell anyone struggling with mental health two things: everyone’s feelings are valid and they should respect the journey, and they are not alone.

“While things might be really difficult right now, it’s really important to authenticate that. If someone is struggling with depression, validate that, don’t try to hide it. It’s totally okay to be exactly where they are,” said Quynn.

“So many people struggle with mental health and have stories and layers that they don’t share with the outside world. Just because we don’t see that doesn’t mean it’s not there,” said Quynn.

NCC offers counseling services at Dyson Wellness Center. Call 630-637-5550 to make an appointment. If it is an emergency, the 24/7 national crisis hotline is available at 1-800-273-8255.