The Active Minds Club at Yeshiva University held it annual Stomp Out The Stigma event on the Wilf Campus on May 3rd. The event aims to destigmatize mental illness by highlighting the stigma of its sufferers in the general population and YU student body.
Active Minds co-president Chana Miller said, “Stomp Out the Stigma is our biggest event of the year. It’s the night that brings the mission [of] the club most vividly into the minds of the students.” Miller added that that one in four people suffer from a mental illness.
This year’s program included the addition of guest speaker Ruth Roth, who introduced the extents that the stigma of mental illnesses can harm families, before four students spoke about their personal battles with mental illnesses.
“It’s my privilege to speak to you on something that is very important to me,” opened Roth, as she shared her family’s story of dealing with her son’s depression. Following her son Jason’s suicide attempt nearly four years ago, the Roths hid the truth of his hospitalization from all their family and friends.
Roth recalled the burden she carried around after her son’s diagnosis. “It’s painful to feel that shame and isolating. The thing I say to myself now is, could I have reached out to someone? Maybe someone would have had a suggestion for us…even if not, we would have not been alone and borne the pain alone, we could have felt supported.”
Unfortunately, Jason committed suicide a few months later. But the Roths made a new decision. “My husband turned to me and asked if we were going to tell the truth this time. And thankfully we did,” Roth said. “One of the ways we are doing better is with the support of our friends. I believe destigmatizing mental illness will save lives.”
Through Roth’s words, Miller believes, “the student body received a stronger sense of awareness about mental health equality and the stigma surrounding mental health. As soon as someone takes medicine for a mental illness, there is tons of shame. The event aims to change that conversation and lead it in a more positive direction.”
The introductory guest speaker was a welcome addition. Rivka Hia, a Stern College senior said, “Having Mrs. Roth share her story really drove the point home about how important it is for everyone to be aware of mental health issues so that they can ensure the safety of themselves and their loved ones.”
Preparation and plans for the annual event started months prior with applications for student speakers and interviews. Senior Elisheva Jacobov worked with two student speakers individually as a speaker liaison, and was one of four such liaisons who worked alongside the counseling center. “Stomp Out The Stigma creates an awareness on campus in the hopes of stomping out the stigma of mental illness,” shared Jacobov. She added, “Many students who struggle expressed that [the event] opened the room for conversation and discussion in their own personal lives.” Students concurred, “It helped me understand, just a little more, my cousin’s mental illness, which I didn’t know about until he committed suicide,” said a student who wished to remain anonymous.
Navah Maynard, an advertising student who attended the event for the first time, was happy she did so. “I supported friends. The open and safe environment was created in order to make an organic move towards understanding, acceptance, healing, and open dialogue. I am proud to be a part of a student body that encourages the values of this event and a school that gives students this important platform,” Maynard stated.
Alumnae Rena Blatt returned to campus for the event that she “looked forward to every year while in Stern.” Blatt said, “Now as a social work student, I see how vital this program is in eradicating the stigma from our community. If only this event could occur on a larger scale, the stigma would no longer exist.”