Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Attention Seeker, Anonymous

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“Why are you such an attention seeker?

What pain?

Where’s the sorrow?

You’re just an attention seeker!”

I just sat there, in the bathroom on the ground alone.'' [excerpt]

Gettysburg Against Gun Violence, Chentese Stewart

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On April 4th, the 50th Anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Saheed Vassell, a 34 year old black man, was shot nine times and killed in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NY. Plain clothes police officers responded to several calls complaining of a man walking through the streets pointing gun at people. They later found out that Saheed was unarmed, and the object in his hand was merely a showerhead.

Saheed had a history of mental illness, and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder years prior. He was well known by longtime residents of the neighborhood who described him …

Studying Abroad With A Mental Illness, Meghan E. O'Donnell

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Whenever anybody asks me about my experience studying abroad, I lie. I tell them that it was transformative, that I returned a more confident, learned, and enlightened person. I tell them all of the things I wish were true, pretending that all of the dreams I had about how studying abroad would affect me were actually the reality of my experience. [excerpt]

I'M In Pain, But You Can't See It, Anonymous

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Two weeks after I returned home from my freshman year at Gettysburg, I suffered a nervous breakdown. I couldn’t get out of bed even though I was unable to sleep. I had no appetite and it felt like pins and needles were constantly poking at my hands and feet. I spent hours wishing for sleep so that I could get some relief, yet I felt so terrified of the possibility that dreams would follow unconsciousness that I turned lights on, played loud music, and sat at my desk in an attempt to do anything that would prevent me from falling …

Between Crazy And Fine, Annette Aguilera-Gonzalez

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As a young Latina, I grew up hiding the fact that I met with a therapist and that I suffered from depression and anxiety. Conversations about mental well-being or taking steps to cope with anxiety were non-existent in my community of friends and family. It was always a taboo topic, an area that we never touched. People were labeled as “crazy” and serious situations were swept under the rug. Seldom was I offered empathy or support. [excerpt]

Fearless Friday: Sarah Van De Weert, Christina L. Bassler

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Sarah Van De Weert ’16 has been fearlessly striving to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health disorders. As the current president of Active Minds, Secretary of APO, and a member of the Honor Commission Sarah works toward a more inclusive campus community, especially for those suffering from mental illnesses. Sarah also conducts research for Dr. Berenson and works for a non-profit called Libero Network. Sarah’s participation in Active Minds on campus focuses on spreading awareness of mental illnesses and reducing the stigmas surrounding them, along with advocating for Gettysburg College to be a safe and open environment for discussions about …