Members of the Black Student Union met on Wednesday, March 19 for a mental health healing circle offering students a space for reflection, connection and self-care.
The event, held in the Game Lounge on the third floor of 618 S. Michigan Ave., welcomed students looking to take a break from midterms and the pressures of college life.
Despite the rainy evening, about 13 students attended, joining in an intimate circle of conversation and support.
At the start of the event, BSU members highlighted campus resources available to students, including TimelyCare, Columbia’s 24/7 virtual health and counseling service, and TRIO Student Support Services, which offers academic and personal support to first-generation students, low-income students and students with disabilities.
Students participated in interactive prompts with open-ended questions encouraging them to share their personal experiences from the semester.
“Classes this semester have been very challenging, I have six this semester,” said Kelly Reed, a sophomore illustration major. “It’s been stressful because the work has been more intense, I have to be more focused in each class to understand the criteria, but I stop to take breaks because I know when I get into work mode I get distracted.”
Junior film and television major Chaya Ross reflected on the impact of the larger political climate on student mental health.
“The political climate is very hard to ignore,” said Ross, vice president of BSU. “We put this pressure on ourselves like we have to fix the entire world, we have to break generational curses while trying to upkeep all of this and just maintain art in the world as well.”
Others emphasized the importance of vulnerability and building connections within the community.
“I feel like we should be more open about how we feel about people, instead of people being so guarded and to themselves,” said Aliya Brown, a junior film and television major. “Individualism is becoming so popular, but it does help to have a community that is together.”
Throughout the evening, participants also shared their personal strategies for managing stress, including keeping physical planners, using the reminders app, setting alarms, and making time for breaks.
BSU’s healing circle was one of several events held during De-Stress Fest, which aims to provide students with opportunities to unwind and prioritize their mental health as they navigate the end of the semester.
“We wanted to make sure the members are well served because mental health is a very tough subject in the Black community,” said Sanaa Thomas, a sophomore film production design major.
“It’s good to be vocal about your feelings without being ostracized and I think it’s always nice when we have events that people can come to knowing the community is here for them and finding ways to cope.”
Copy edited by Patience Hurston
