With finals and the end of the year coming up, it’s important to be on the lookout for others, especially when it comes to their mental health. Briana Guevara, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Tigers Together Project Coordinator, explains how these seminars focus on mental health and suicide prevention topics, providing strategies for becoming effective advocates in these areas.
“These seminars play a great role in the lives of Doane students,” Guevara said. “By delving into topics like mental health and suicide prevention, students are empowered with the knowledge that they are not alone in their struggles and their well-being truly matters.”
The first of the 4-week Zoom seminar kicked off on April 11, which started at 12 p.m. Each of these seminars is held on the same day and time, with upcoming seminars scheduled for April 25 and May 2, and all staff, faculty and students can attend.
“We’ve chosen to focus these seminars on diverse populations, with topics covering the LatinX, LGBTQA+, Black and African American communities, along with High Achieving Students,” Guevara said. “So far, we’ve covered seminars on the LatinX and LGBTQA+ populations. These seminars also help to foster an environment where discussions surrounding mental health and suicide are encouraged among peers, family, and colleagues.”
Guevara thinks that these seminars can cause a ripple effect of spreading awareness about mental health and suicide prevention and could potentially impact individuals.
“We are just grateful to have the opportunity to offer these seminars with the Doane community and are excited for what’s to come in the future,” Guevara said. “I also want to add that whether you’re passionate about mental health advocacy or simply interested in learning more, we welcome all individuals to join us on the final two weeks of these seminars.”