The week of Oct. 3-7 is the first time ever that Santa Fe will be hosting Mental Illness Awareness Week. The purpose of the week is to raise awareness about mental health conditions and begin conversations that focus on acceptance instead of stigma.
This week will be full of fun, educational events that all students and staff are encouraged to participate in. Awareness tabling is from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Tueday and Wednesday, Oct. 4-5 in the Oak Grove, with free pizza included.
A free showing of the movie A Beautiful Mind is scheduled for 1:15, 4:15, and 6:45 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7 in P-160. Post-film discussion with SF Psychology Professor Dr. Chris Raye will follow. Professors Jean Theurer, Greg Jones and Theresa Foster are also in the speaker series.
Like other medical illnesses, mental illnesses are biological (brain-based) disorders from which recovery is possible. Yet recent research has showed that many people still harbor beliefs shrouded in misconceptions, such as, most people with mental illness are violent or uneducated. These beliefs may be influenced by negative portrayals in the media. We want people to know that having a mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of and that there is hope for recovery. We hope that our series of events will raise the consciousness of our campus.