October 27, 2022
Miller School units host community conversation on mental health Nov. 2
Research demonstrates that talking about a topic encourages others to take it seriously. Two Kansas State University units are putting this principle into action.
K-State's Huck Boyd National Center for Community Media and Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy will co-host a community forum on mental health at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, in the West Ballroom of the K-State Student Union. All are welcome.
The forum, "Breaking the Taboo: Destigmatizing Mental Health in Civic Conversations," will cover ways that individuals and communities can encourage open and productive conversations about mental health.
Three panelists will reflect and answer questions on the topic:
- Tychelle Jones, clinical social worker, counselor and owner of 365 Days 365 Chances Counseling Services.
- Kate McMillen, Lafene Counseling and Psychological Services.
- Sakshi Bhati, K-State graduate student.
Aliah Mestrovich Seay, executive director of UFM Community Learning Center, will moderate.
"Mental health is a topic surrounded by a lot of stigma and prejudice," said Samuel Mwangi, professor and director of the Huck Boyd Center for Community Media. "The best way to fight this stigma is to speak up about mental illness if you are comfortable doing so. You never know who is listening to you. You may end up encouraging someone else who is struggling with mental health."
"The Institute for Civil Discourse and Democracy and Huck Boyd share a mission of improving public discourse — the former through citizen participation and the latter through community media," said Colene J. Lind, associate professor and director of the Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy. "This forum seeks to achieve our shared goal in the context of mental health."
Preregistration is not required, but those interested in more information about the forum, Huck Boyd or Institute for Civil Discourse and Democracy can sign up at forms.gle/z6PmEn8mvuV7aHzq7.
The Huck Boyd Center for Community Media serves and strengthens news media in small towns. The center sponsors the annual Huck Boyd Lecture on communication and community.
The Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy, formed in 2004 as an interdisciplinary, nonpartisan organization in response to polarization and increasingly complex public issues, engages in research, education and service for stronger democracy.