As part of a three-year Campus Suicide Prevention Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), University Health and Counseling Services has partnered with the Steve Fund, an organization dedicated to supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color, to deliver a series of workshops particularly focused on BIPOC graduate students.
Jan Collins-Eaglin, an advisor for the Steve Fund, will be at Case Western Reserve University to facilitate three workshops for the campus community Sept. 26–27.
“Racial Healing: Creating Space for Wellness” (for students)
Thursday, Sept. 26
Noon to 1:30 p.m.
Tinkham Veale University Center Senior Classroom
Transitions to college are often accompanied by race-related stress, which can impact a student’s ability to succeed. In particular, students of color can face experiences such as imposter phenomenon, microaggression, an invalidating campus climate, and mental health stigma. Being aware and becoming equipped to handle these concerns can help students not only survive, but thrive.
This workshop will provide students of color with information on the types of issues they might face, how to cope to maintain their physical and emotional well-being, answer questions about monitoring their health, and provide best practices for seeking assistance and available resources
Register for the “Racial Healing: Creating Space for Wellness” event.
“Letting Go of the Imposter” (for students)
Thursday, Sept. 26
4 to 5:30 p.m.
Tinkham Veale University Center second-floor conference room
This session will engage participants to explore why the imposter phenomenon exists, and how it impacts their academics, personal experiences, and mental health.
Participants will further learn about the different archetypes of imposter phenomenon and identify practical actions that can address how these archetypes manifest overtly and implicitly in their daily lives. Finally, participants will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of who they are and identify the truths about their unique strengths, intelligences and accomplishments.
Register for the “Letting Go of the Imposter” session.
“Promoting the Mental Health of Students of Color: Considerations and Strategies for the Classroom and Beyond” (for faculty and staff)
Friday, Sept. 27
10 to 11 a.m.
Tinkham Veale University Center Senior Classroom
Promoting an academic environment that is supportive of students’ mental health can alleviate the stress and reframe how we define student success. There are academic and classroom stressors that are particularly salient among students of color who may experience daily microaggressions, harassment and racial discrimination.
Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the unique experiences of undergraduate and graduate students of color in the classroom, taking into account disciplinary cultures and the broader campus climate. This session will also offer practical guidance for how instructors can promote well-being in campus learning environments and support the mental health of students of color.