Student Government wants students to know pain can’t always be seen.
SG’s Health Affairs Cabinet handed out 144 shirts, which cost about $720, and read "Not All Wounds Are Visible," to students Tuesday on Turlington Plaza. Dozens of students came to learn about mental health stigmas during its first event, Gators Chomp the Stigma.
Nhu Le, a UF pharmacy freshman, said she decided to go to the event because she’s seen the challenges mental health issues pose.
"My friends have gone through (it)," she said.
She said she was shocked to learn one in four college students struggle with a mental health disorder. With about 50,000 UF students, more than 12,000 could potentially face this.
"It’s surprising how the statistics shock you," the 19-year-old said.
Later Tuesday night in the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom, about 40 people listened to students share their struggles with mental health’s negative stigma.
On a screen, two brain types were shown: The normal brain resembled a laser-light show, but the depressed brain was clouded in black.
Each panelist represented a specific culture and point of view. Despite having roots in countries as far apart as Peru and China, the students all agreed mental health is something people just don’t talk enough about.
"In my culture, especially as, like, a black woman, especially as a queer person, you don’t really talk about your mental illnesses a lot," said Diamond Delancy, a UF women’s studies and public relations senior.
The 20-year-old said it’s hard to talk to her family about her psychological problems because she is often perceived as a black superwoman, one who is to always keep her feelings hidden.
The most prevalent forms of mental health disorders among students are depression and anxiety, said Jeannie Latimer, a psychotherapist at the UF Counseling & Wellness Center. On a given day, she sees six to eight students who seek help.
She said a college atmosphere tends to trigger these types of mental health issues.
"It can be a pretty stressful time," she said.
Contact Caitlin Ostroff at costroff@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @ceostroff
Contact Martin Vassolo at mvassolo@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @martindvassolo
