Students learn about mental health and wellness

Imperial Valley College is hoping to reduce the stigma of mental illness on campus by educating students on the illness.

The college held a mental wellness festival for students that included activities and tips for dealing with anxiety, stress, and depression.

The month of May is mental health awareness month.

It’s an illness the National Alliance on Mental Health Illness, says affects 1 in 5 adults in the united states.

Lupita Castro is the mental health counselor at Imperial Valley College. She says many of the students who come to her sometimes have no one else to turn to.

“It’s like going to see another doctor another person when you just have a headache, a cold, you go and find help. So the same thing with your feelings and your thoughts,” Castro said.

Castro says that in the last two years she has seen a rise in students seeking counseling services at the student health center.

“From ten students maybe eight of them don’t understand what’s going on with them. They think I just don’t feel well and I’m here to see what I can do about it. They don’t understand if it’s the depression or the anxiety,” Castro said.

Active minds is a new club at Imperial Valley College that brings awareness to mental health. The club provides a safe space for students to talk about their problems.

“It’s a big issue. They’re dealing with it, for example I was dealing with it and I thought I was the only one feeling this way,” said Ayram Pesqueira, Active Minds President.

“I’m the only one freaking out about school and stressed out, but everyone at this age is dealing with it too,” said Pesqueira.

“At the end I can see the smile, I can see the hope, I can see that they are understanding that they may need more help, but they are willing to make a change because they can see the positive benefits here,” said Castro.

The student health center at Imperial Valley College offers six free counseling sessions to each student.