NAMI Connection Promotes Openness at SLU
A group that was created at Southeastern Louisiana University for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) met for a social meeting on Feb. 13, in the student union, at 6 p.m.
The free support group aims to help adults living with a mental health condition. Chad Cashio, event coordinator and leader of the social meeting, stated, “I started these socials for students with mental illness. The intent is to have a safe space.”
Unlike an ordinary meeting, the setting was less formal and serious.
The socials occur at the same location and time as regular meetings; however, the focus is to promote sociability and comfortableness.
During regular meetings, the council and other members work together to create events and fundraisers promoting awareness of mental illness.
Most often, people suffering from mental illness will not seek help or talk about their issues.
Lojuanda Weary, Vice President of Southeastern’s NAMI Group, said, “The more you hold it in, the worse your mental health is. I just want people to get help.”
During the teenage and young adult stages, self-injury is most common.
In the previous meeting, the group planned a fundraiser for Self-Injury Awareness day. Although Self-Injury Awareness day is on Friday, March 1, NAMI will hold a fundraiser on Thursday, Feb. 28 due to fewer students being at school on Fridays.
Self-harm or self-injury means hurting yourself on purpose. While the most common method using a blade, other methods include burning, pulling out hair, and picking at healing wounds.
The fundraiser’s purpose is to discuss other alternatives to self-injury. Cashio stated, “It’s important to understand [NAMI] isn’t promoting self-harm; we are promoting alternatives.”
Some of the alternatives students will learn at the fundraiser are expected to include the usage of ice cubes and creation of slime.
By squeezing an ice cube, individuals can feel a sharp coldness but leave no injury to themselves. Creating slime is meant to be a therapeutic concept to ease strong emotions.
Besides planning events and fundraisers, NAMI goes over updated information on several mental illnesses and offers individuals the opportunity to talk about their personal illnesses.
Cashio said, “You’re more comfortable when you have peers.”
One of the primary subjects NAMI constantly explains is that there is a stigma around mental illness.
The stigma consists of three things: 1) those who seek help or have mental illness should be ridiculed, 2) healthcare workers and providers accommodate less to mental health treatment, and 3) a hopeless attitude of there being no hope for bettering mental health.
In order to defeat the stigma, people have to be made aware that they are not alone. That is NAMI’s mission.
The group holds meetings every month; dates vary each month, but they all take place on Mondays. Any social meetings NAMI conducts will normally be on Wednesdays.
To reach out to Southeastern’s NAMI group, contact namisoutheastern@gmail.com. For an online source, check out the Facebook group “Nami Southeastern”.
