Before a walk around campus, Indiana University Northwest Chancellor Arrick Jackson told students and staff that it’s important for the school to help take care of each other.
“Mental health is a crisis,” Jackson said. “Start reaching out for help as soon as you can, and that helps us break the stigma.”
Jackson was one of the speakers before the university’s fourth annual Walk Against Mental Health Stigma on Tuesday. The walk started at the Moraine Student Center and went through campus, including along the sidewalk strip on Broadway.
The IUN Office of Counseling Services helped connect students with services on-campus. Lutheran Church Charities was also present with its K-9 comfort dog ministry.
Dan Fulkerson, who works for the comfort dog ministry, said the organization uses golden retrievers to help with therapy nationwide. At IUN on Tuesday, the group had two dogs: Jael and Michael.
“They’re cuddly,” Fulkerson said about the golden retrievers. “Everybody wants to pet a golden retriever. … These guys are very loving, and they always want to cuddle up next to you.”
Fulkerson said the dogs’ home base is Hobart, but Jael has gone to Uvalde, Texas, after a shooting at the elementary school, and Michael has been to Arkansas.
“Wherever we’re asked, we’ll go,” he added.
IUN Director of Counseling Services Alex Copeland thanked Jael and Michael for their presence Tuesday and for their help with mental health.
Before Tuesday’s walk, Copeland explained the importance of the university’s Walk Against Mental Health Stigma. She’s proud to see students prioritize their and their peers’ mental health, Copeland said.
“Thank you all for attending our event and for helping raise awareness for mental health,” she added. “You bring change and help start the conversation about mental health.”
IUN provides various mental health services, Copeland said, including free counseling that’s no cost to university students. The counseling office offers individual sessions, counseling groups and various outreach events throughout the academic year.
“We’re here to support students emotionally and academically,” she added.
Mariam Ameeruddin, a senior at IUN, also spoke about the importance of the university’s mental health services.
Ameeruddin also said she’s happy to see how many students attended the Walk Against Mental Health Stigma Tuesday.
“I’m seeing people from different cultures and different backgrounds, and people who have had different experiences have a lot of the same experiences with mental health,” Ameeruddin said. “The important thing is that you all showed up, and that’s a step in destigmatizing mental health.”
Growing up, Ameeruddin said it was difficult for her to express how she was feeling mentally. Coming to college and hearing others talk about it has helped her.
“You’re helping me overcome that,” Ameeruddin said. “You’re allowing me to give a voice to others in the community that don’t have a voice. So now, these little things are going to add up and help.”
