Did you know CT State Manchester has an award-winning club on campus whose focus is mental health?
Well, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, chapter was named club of the year in Connecticut for the 2023-24 academic year. For this honor it beat out other chapters at the University of Connecticut, Quinnipiac University, Fairfield University, and the University of Saint Joseph. It is a recognition of all the work club members do to the bring the topic of mental health to the forefront, said Ashley Odell, president of the Manchester NAMI chapter.
“NAMI is the country’s largest grassroots, mental health organization which focuses on doing advocacy work, raising awareness, and breaking stigmas around mental health,” she said, adding that the purpose of NAMI chapters on college campuses is to create a safe space for discussing topics surrounding mental illness.
Since Manchester’s chapter started in 2016, the club has been involved in several activities geared toward mental health awareness, including distributing fidget toys, bringing speakers related to mental illness to campus and participating in the annual Fresh Check Day, a suicide prevention event.
Odell herself became involved in the club as a returning student and noted the distinct absence of mental health support at the college when she was first a student at Manchester from 2005-2008. NAMI fills an important gap for students between their place of education and safe spaces for mental illness support, she said.
Joe Navarra, who is head of disability services at Manchester and acts as the co-advisor of the NAMI Manchester chapter, it is important to close such gaps.
“NAMI, I think is really important to changing the conversation on campus and nationally about mental health and mental illness,” he said. So, I hope for a day that people don’t suffer in silence because everyone knows someone.”
To get involved you can reach out to Navarra at [email protected] and the other club co-advisor, Sage Hojda, who coordinates the Disability Specialist Program, at [email protected].
The club meets regularly throughout the semester and club meetings usually start with a therapeutic activity, and then a discussion of issues being seen on campus and what can be done by the club to advocate for students at CT State Manchester.
But more student members are needed, said Navarra.
“I think we need to move to this model of where we can talk openly and honestly. NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness is leading the charge in that. And so, we’re always looking for students to carry on that work,” he said.
