By Taylor Breckles (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: October 15, 2014
UFV’s current student population is part of a generation known for amplifying issues surrounding gender, body dysmorphia, and mental health. In order to aid in the further exploration of one of these issues, the counsellors at UFV organized a mental health awareness booth and self-test area for both students and faculty this past week.
“[This event was] a mental health awareness event on depression, anxiety, risky drinking, and well-being for staff and students to get information [and] do a self-test, if they [wanted], and then [counsellors assessed] it with them. But basically, we’re just promoting mental health awareness and giving information,” Kiira Leibel, one of the volunteers for the event, said.
The focus of the mental health awareness table and testing area was not only to inform people about the risks of mental health, but to help anybody who might be suffering at UFV. Along with the various mental health tests, each participant was also screened for suicide risks.
Eileen Burkholder, a UFV counsellor, said they had met with three people who were at high risk for suicide.
“If [a person happens] to answer a question that affirms that they are having suicidal thoughts, we often gently like to address that,” UFV counsellor Priscilla Ang said. “We invite them to talk more about that, and sometimes they’re able to clarify where those thoughts come from … we want to be able to provide them [with information] and make them feel safe.”
There was a curtain separating the testing area from the main table with information, which Burkholder explained was for the privacy of the high-risk students and faculty. She continued to say that she wanted to create a feeling of safety, and should a student or faculty member be at high risk for any mental health problem, additional information was available behind the curtain that reinforced confidentiality and comfort.
Although people came to the event in order to learn about mental health, both for themselves and for loved ones, there was one distinct aspect which drew in visitors.
“The popcorn has been the most successful [attraction]. Popcorn has this wonderful aroma — if you like popcorn — and we actually ran out. Popcorn is a nice gift and then we have swag [as well],” Burkholder said. The event provided guests with notepads, magnets, portable temperature emotion tests, and stress release balls in the shape of punching gloves.
Leibel pointed out how the popcorn also made it easier for people to approach the pamphlets, because they could grab a snack before perusing the table. This provided students with a reason to hang around the table, as opposed to feeling stressed or anxious about wanting a pamphlet.
The booth was quiet during the beginning of their demonstration at 10:00 a.m., but picked up by 2:20 p.m. as classes were ending.
Although the popcorn was a definite draw, Burkholder pointed out that their efforts made a difference regardless of the number of participants. Helping the three suicide risks, providing passers-by with results from the self-test, and informing the public with pamphlets and discussions made the event successful.
