By Katherine Zimmerman, NAMI-UW President (2022-2024) My sincere thanks to the UW Department of Student Affairs for hosting the 2024 Bucky Awards in addition to UW-Madison's University Health Services (UHS) and Recreation & Wellbeing (Rec Well) for co-sponsoring the Health and Wellbeing Award. The NAMI-UW leadership team is extremely grateful and honored to be recognized for our efforts towards promoting health and well-being in the UW-Madison community through peer-to-peer support, advocacy, student leadership, and awareness of mental health resources. Mental well-being is a fundamental aspect of overall health and addressing mental health challenges is essential for creating healthy lives. That is why NAMI-UW is committed to creating a community where students can build a sense of belonging, have access to and be knowledgeable about mental health resources, and learn skills that positively impact their mental health, in order to support their well-being and empower students beyond their college years. In short, I am incredibly proud of what we've accomplished this year and of my fellow executive team members for finding creative and impactful ways to continue our student organization's mission and reaching future goals!
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It is with mixed emotions that we bid farewell to one of our executive board members who graduated this fall. We are going to miss their invaluable contributions to our community and the warmth and positivity they brought to our events and meetings. As they embark on new journeys and experiences after graduation, we want to wish them all the best and offer our heartfelt congratulations. We are confident that they will go on to do great things and make a positive impact wherever they go. Thank you for all the effort you have put into our community. Your dedication, hard work, and leadership have helped shape NAMI-UW into the vibrant and supportive community that it is today. We are grateful for your contributions and will always remember them as an integral part of our community. Thank you for everything, and we wish you all the success in your future endeavors! ALYSSA SHACK: 2022-23 Secretary. Alyssa has graduated with an degree in Psychology and Spanish! She joined NAMI to be an advocate and supporter for those who struggle with mental health and hopes to foster more conversations about mental health.
Written by Jacob Riceman Chappell Hello, My name is Jacob. I’m a senior in Math at UW, and I’m writing this for the sake of myself, and for those who I hope may gain reassurance or empathy from it.
I was raised alongside an older brother and sister. My brother, eight years older than me, committed suicide in 2012 at the age of 20. My sister spiraled into mental illness, and was diagnosed with anorexia among a host of other co-diagnoses. After years of varying treatment and stages of recovery, she committed suicide in 2017. She was 21. I am now 23, older than both of my siblings at the time of their deaths. As you might expect, I have been personally dealing with the struggles of mental illness for the last decade. After a significant amount of time in various modes of therapy and repeatedly experiencing the grief process, I’ve been given, among many other things, unique insight into the effects and causes of suicide. To the loved ones of those who are struggling, I’ve found that what they need the most are close, loving relationships with other people. Although I don’t want to understate the benefits that professional treatment can have; it isn’t a replacement for interpersonal connection. In order for you to support them, they need to want your support. They must feel safe when you’re around and know that coming to you won’t risk a negative outcome. If you are not able to provide this for them, which can happen for any multitude of reasons that are not necessarily your fault, try to find them someone who can. To those struggling themselves, you have probably heard every uplifting cliché so many times that they start to lose all meaning; most of which can be summarized by “it will get better.” I don’t think the passage of time always heals absolutely. I will always have scars. But the message I want to get through is that your struggles are surmountable. There are unlimited possibilities for joyous things in the future that you can find if you seek them out, and there are people that are counting on you to bring them the same. Death would be a great disservice to you, and to them. I am proud of you for being here. Thank you for reading, Jacob Riceman Chappell |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
April 2024
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