MSU’s newest club is helping students cope with mental illness
‘Mental illness is still something that people just don’t talk about, but we plan on talking about it’
Many MSU students struggle with mental illness – probably more than you realize. In fact, one in four students between the ages of 18-24 have a diagnosable mental illness. Alison Miner and three other Michigan State students are hoping that their newly organized student club, the Mental Health Awareness Club (MHAC), can help those who are struggling.
Alison is a sophomore student who began have mental health problems during her freshmen year. We sat down with her to get some more info on the club she founded.
Alison, MHAC President
What made you start the club?
I have personally been suffering from anxiety and depression for the past two years now and my friend from high school, Jameson [Draper], the vice president of the club, also had experience with mental illness. Basically we wanted to create a space in which we could talk freely to each other about not only our own experiences with mental illness, but to hear what Michigan State University as a whole had to say about the subject. Our main goal is to raise awareness on how common mental illness is and to defeat the stigma that mental illness unfortunately holds.
Did you have help from anyone or was it a solo project? How did you elect the e-board?
This was mainly just a project between three friends. Jameson and I came up with the idea so we elected ourselves president and vice president. Later on we had gotten news that our friend Matthew Roffey also wanted to be involved so we [made him] treasurer.
Jameson, MHAC Vice President
What are your goals for the club?
The main goal again is to raise awareness about how common mental illness is and we want our voice to be heard on campus. For any student [who] has dealt with a mental illness and has tried to get a counseling appointment here on campus, they know that this process is very strenuous and the waiting time can be up to a month. If you had a broken hand and you had to wait a month to see a doctor it would be more than just an inconvenience, and that’s how someone with mental illness feels when they are in need and cannot easily talk to someone. We want to create a network of students who support and understand each other.
Where can MSU students find more info about the club about meetings and support?
We are on Facebook, Twitter @mhac_msu, or you can email us at [email protected]. I will also be posting flyers around campus later this week. However, we will have one final meeting of the semester on Tuesday, December 6 from 7:30-8:30pm in the Lake Michigan room, on the third floor of the Union.
Matthew, MHAC Treasurer
Can people who don’t suffer from mental health problems still be in the club and come to meetings?
Yes of course! If you do not have mental illness we very much do encourage you to come because we intend on not only creating a space to support each other, but we want to educate others on types of mental illness, ways to cope, and how we are going to defeat the stigma that mental illness has. As of right now, mental illness is still something that people “just don’t talk about” but we plan on talking about it and spreading the word on campus of how prevalent this problem really is.
For more information check out MHAC’s Facebook and Twitter, and if you have more personal questions feel free to email the club. If you’re interested in joining, the last meeting of the semester before winter break will be in the Lake Michigan room of the Union from 6:30-7:30pm on Tuesday, December 6.