Some local college students learned more about mental health resources available to them.
Resources & Awareness
The Mental Health Resource Fair brought together nearly 20 different health organizations from the area to College of DuPage.
“Really anything that we do that’s on a big scale like this raises awareness,” said COD Mental Health Counselor Silvia Donatelli. “[It] also reduces stigma of mental health. So a student who might have been struggling can see an event like this and say ‘it’s okay for me to talk about this.’ So whenever we have the chance to put something on the table regarding mental health it lets people know we’re here to help and it’s okay to have those conversations.”
Students were able to talk with professionals, take a free and anonymous depression screening, and attend a panel discussion about mental health awareness.
Mental Health on Campus
The panel included keynote speaker, State Representative Deb Conroy of the 46th District. She spoke about her support for the recently signed Mental Health Early Action On Campus Act, which intends to address the gaps in mental health services across college campuses in Illinois.
That act becomes effective in July of 2020.
Naperville News 17’s Christine Lena reports.
