A national initiative called Mind the Gap made its way to the University of Florida campus inspiring students to rise up to mental health issues.
Organizers literally lifted each other up in a hot air balloon to inspire students to look at a bigger picture and gain perspective into their own personal health.
“We wanted to bring the significance of having a physical representation of what it is to let your worries take flight,” said event coordinator, Kisa Mugwanya.
A recent study conducted by University Primetime reported that UF ranks 47th on a list of the top 50 universities with the most stressed out student bodies.
“There’s a gap in how we acknowledge how we take care of our physical and mental health. So mind the gap is us asking people to pay attention and take action in how they take care of how their mind is doing,” said Mugwanya.
According to the National Mental Health Alliance (NAMI), these are the most recent statistics from mental health studies across college campuses:
- One in four young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 have a diagnosable mental illness.
- More than 25 percent of college students have been diagnosed or treated by a professional for a mental health condition within the past year.
- 75% of lifetime cases of mental health conditions begin by age 24.
- Almost 73 percent of students living with a mental health condition have experienced a mental health crisis on campus. Yet, 34.2 percent reported that their college did not know about their crisis.
Mind the Gap was designed for the Campaign To Change Direction, a national not-for-profit campaign that aims to change how mental health is viewed in America and to make sure those with mental health issues are given the help they need. The University of Florida Bateman team put its own twist on the idea.
“It is important to think about the balance with your physical health and all of the universities participating in this campaign are designing their campaigns around that concept,” said professor and faculty advisor Deanna Pelfrey.
To continue the month of awareness, the group will bring a panel of UF students who have faced mental health challenges to speak March 1st at the Reitz Union Chamber from 6:30 p.m to 8:30 p.m.