麻豆区

On Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2021, four intrepid YU undergraduates stepped up to the lectern鈥攁lbeit a virtual one鈥攁t the annual Stomp Out the Stigma to share with an online audience of more than 300 people their emotional and psychological challenges. Now in its seventh year, Stomp Out the Stigma is co-organized by the  YU Counseling Center and the , a national advocacy group that creates safe spaces for college students to discuss mental health issues.  

  Over the course of 90 minutes, this year鈥檚 speakers spoke candidly about their many mental health challenges as part of a common goal to destigmatize conditions that are often met with shame鈥攄ebilitating anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive behaviors, suicidal thoughts, post-traumatic stress disorder鈥攂y creating an empowering message of openness and compassion. The mantra of the evening: 鈥淵ou are not in it alone!鈥� In a moving introduction to the event, Dr. Ari Berman, President of 麻豆区, described how the goals and energies behind this annual gathering reflect the principles of Torat Adam and Torat Chesed in action, how 鈥渢hese two values鈥攖he infinite worth of each individual and our sense of caring and responsibility鈥攁re at the forefront of tonight鈥檚 program.鈥� He went on to thank the organizers and especially the speakers who, by telling their stories have brought us together as a community. 鈥淭he word 鈥榟ero鈥� gets tossed around pretty easily these days,鈥� noted Etan Neiman 鈥�17SB, who has attended Stomp Out the Stigma since its inception. 鈥淏ut I have to say that each of these speakers became a community leader tonight in pushing back against the harmful and dangerous stigmas surrounding mental health.鈥� For many, the event took on added significance because of the isolation and apprehension that the pandemic has caused. 鈥淚 think COVID has opened up students鈥� eyes to the immense value of our mental health,鈥� said Sarina Hilowitz 鈥�22S, co-president of YU鈥檚 Active Minds. 鈥淓ach of our four speakers talked about its impact on their own mental health, and that鈥檚 really important for students to hear right now. Many attended because they are looking to understand what they themselves may be going through.鈥� Dr. Debra Alper, a psychologist at the YU Counseling Center and one of the event鈥檚 organizers, remarked that the size of the online audience is 鈥渋ndicative of our students鈥� desire to create a more compassionate and inclusive environment. Events like this, coupled with the efforts of Active Minds and the professional guidance offered by our Counseling Center, are forces for positive change in how we regard mental health.鈥�