In observance of Self-Injury Awareness Day, UConn Active Minds hosted “The Secret’s Out,” a panel for student discussion Monday night.
Upon arrival, members of the audience were given a silver ribbon pin to represent their self-injury awareness.
The discussion began at 7 p.m. with each of the four panel members telling about their personal experiences.
The panel was cosponsored by the Rainbow Center and the counselors from Counseling and Mental Health Services.
Anne Thompson, a first-year graduate student in the Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) program, spoke first. She explained that self-injury also includes addiction, which may start out as something socially acceptable but eventually leads to anxiety and depression.
Thompson calls addiction “the disease of more,” saying that it can affect anyone from any background and causes them to always be looking for “more” of whatever meets that need.
Next to speak was Becky Richardson, an 8th-semester psychology major with a concentration in research. While discussing her experiences, she explained that to some, self-injury can seem like the only option. And as for getting better, she said, “Recovery is neither an easy nor a quick process. You need to really submit yourself to it.”
Richardson was followed by Rebecca Bonetti, a 2nd-semester pre-dietetics major. She explained that even when one thinks they are fully recovered, he or she should still look to those who provide support, such as family or a mental health professional, immediately upon recovering from the self-injury.
Last to speak was Robert Freyer, a 6th-semester English major, who talked about his philosophy on getting better. He said he thought of the Nike slogan “Just do it,” and said it can be used when one is feeling too upset to go out and have fun. Freyer said if one “just does it,” some of the inhibitions get pushed aside, allowing the person to see he or she can have a good time just like anyone else.
While answering a question from the audience, he also mentioned that to ask a friend how he or she is doing and to seek an honest answer (rather than just the typical “I’m fine”) can be a great way to check up on him or her.
National Self-Injury Awareness Day is March 1. According to SelfInjury.org, approximately 1 percent of Americans use self-injury to try to cope with negative situations.
After the panel spoke, Active Minds President Margo Bertram opened up the discussion to the audience for questions and comments.
To close, there was a performance by A Minor.
Active Minds is a group dedicated to “changing the conversation about mental health,” according to their motto. Bertram says they work to “remove the stigma surrounding mental health issues.”
Active Minds meets Wednesdays at 6 p.m. in Student Union room 410.
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