According to Sam Cardamone, Mental Health Advisory Committee member, The Mental Health Town Hall allows the college and its representatives directly communicate with the campus community in a formal environment that remains “respectful and constructive.” (courtesy of the mental health advisory committee)
On Monday March 9, Geneseo’s Mental Health Advisory Committee will be hosting its third annual Mental Health Town Hall in Newton 202 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. The event is open to all students, faculty and staff, and hopes to address any outstanding questions, comments or concerns attendees may have regarding mental health.
According to Mental Health Advisory Committee chair Laura Swanson, the committee aims to broaden the way mental health is approached on campus.
In addition to the forum, a Google form will be available via email for those who can’t attend the event or are more comfortable giving their input that way.
“The contributions at the Town Hall and through the Google form demonstrate the power of the collective voice of the students,” according to Swanson. “The best way to open the conversation is to get as many voices as we can at the table … we wanted to include as many people as possible in our decision-making process.”
By making the event an open forum, the committee is looking to hear “varying perspectives of mental health and mental support on our campus,” according to Swanson. “This is a great way to have an ongoing conversation about mental health on our campus and build solutions.”
“The Mental Health Town Hall is a way for the college to receive direct communication from students in an atmosphere that is respectful and constructive,” Mental Health Advisory Committee member and study abroad office director Sam Cardamone said.
Another goal of the event is to inform students about the resources available on campus. According to Cardamone, not all students are aware of where they can turn to if they’re facing challenges related to mental health.
“The Town Hall also aims to spread the word about the wellness things that may contribute positively to individuals’ mental health,” Cardamone said.
As the event enters its third year, the committee has been making adjustments to ensure its effectiveness based on previous feedback. The continuation of hosting this event has built momentum, according to Cardamone.
While the event has been growing and changing, it has been well-received from the beginning. “After the first one, the first question we got at the end was, when are we doing this again,” Swanson said.
Something the committee has been focusing on this year is how people can contribute positively to their spheres of influence, particularly members of the campus community who are not trained mental health professionals since they may have less experience with mental health related issues, according to Swanson.
“We are thinking about what each of us can do to prevent exacerbations of mental illness, and what are the things we can do to help each other feel supported, and less isolated,” Swanson said.
Another aspect that is being emphasized this year and was in the past as well, is that everyone has mental health needs the same way they have physical health needs according to Swanson.
Cardamone said that she and the committee feel grateful for the positive engagement they have received in the past and are hopeful for more, because the event encourages thoughtful and constructive dialogue.
“I have never participated in the Mental Health Town Hall before, but I’ll definitely try to attend since mental health is a very relevant topic and academics impact most students’ mental health,” English major junior Emma Raupp said.