The Matters
Each spoke of UMatter represents an aspect of well-being for students at Chico State.
Through talking about these aspects of well-being, UMatter aims to...
- increase awareness about how mental health and mental illness impacts our students.
- decrease the stigma that prevents students from accessing help.
- increase bystander intervention if students, staff, or faculty see a student in distress.
How can you help?
Increase your awareness
- Educate yourself about mental illness. Seek out information that not only dispels myths about mental health, but helps you understand the "lived experience" of people with mental illness diagnoses:
- Learn to identify and validate your own feelings. The more accurately you can identify your feelings, the better you will get at making decisions and communicating with others.
- What are you feeling right now? (Remember, you can experience more than one feeling at a time!)
- Pay attention to your self-talk. Self-compassion is one of the key components of positive mental health.
You can build resilience by changing your inner dialogue.- What's the meanest thing you say to yourself when you've made a mistake?
- What could you say instead? (Think of what you might say to comfort a friend.)
Decrease stigma
- Start a conversation with a friend or family member about mental health. What promotes it? What diminishes it?
- Avoid stigmatizing phrases like, "She's psycho," or "I'm so bipolar" to describe normal emotional fluctuations.
- Use person-centered language. For example, instead of "She's anorexic," try saying, "She has anorexia."
Be an informed bystander
Signs of an emotional crisis:
- Significant DISTRESSING EVENTS that might have recently occurred (e.g., a breakup or health concern).
- A significant CHANGE in behavior (e.g., drinking more, reckless or risky behavior).
- Talk of HOPELESSNESS that things will get better.
If you are concerned about someone's emotional well-being, listen to them and reassure them that you want to help. Encourage this person to seek out professional help, if necessary.