Gamecocks support National Mental Health Awareness Week
Up News Info
Saturday is the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, and South Carolina Athletics is collaborating with campus mental health initiatives to help eliminate stigmas surrounding mental health and increase mental health resources on college campuses. Fans and students are encouraged to follow @healthycarolina_UofSC on Instagram for the latest information.
“It’s a national initiative to raise awareness of mental health concerns, reduce the stigma and increase understanding of those living with mental illness as well as those who love or take care of people with a mental illness,” said April Scott, Associate Director of Mental Health Initiatives with Student Health Services. “One way of fighting stigma is increasing awareness and conversations around the topic. The more you can have people talk about it and become educated, the more understanding they are. That stigma is a big barrier for people even going out and seeking help.”
The last several months have been stressful for many people due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, and more people are seeking help.
“Across the nation, college counseling services have seen a significant increase in demand to the point where very few are able to meet the demand for services,” Scott said. “One way that we try to help with that is to promote the preventive side of mental health. Mental health is something you can work on every day, just like we do with our physical health. We want to prevent or reduce the number of students who need those intervention services. We can help with things like wellness coaching, meditation, or stress management sessions. We have a number of services available.”
“So many people are struggling. We’re seeing that a lot, especially with the pandemic, with people who wouldn’t normally consider themselves having a mental illness,” said Sarah Noll, Director of Mental Health for South Carolina Athletics. “Mental health isn’t necessarily about having a diagnosis. It’s about taking care of yourself emotionally and making sure you are coping well.
“The Mental Health Initiatives group supports the theme, ‘Together we can heal. Together we can help. Together we can hope.'”
Mental Health Awareness Week kicks off on Saturday with Hilinski’s Hope promoting #3Day, which is a call to action for universities across the nation to participate. Hilinski’s Hope is a non-profit foundation founded by the Hilinski family following the suicide of former Washington State quarterback Tyler Hilinski. Ryan Hilinski is a sophomore quarterback for the Gamecocks.
