ABCampout head co-ordinator emphasizes importance of mental health awareness

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: LAWVIN HADISI
The Austen Berlet Campout in Victoria Park reflects a growth in mental health awareness events.

Colleges and universities want to make sure their students take care of their mental health. Both Western University and Fanshawe College have several events and initiatives to help students de-stress, such as therapy dogs, free massages and mental health awareness weeks.

A variety of events and awareness campaigns show that campuses are paying attention to the impact of mental illness on their students. The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) said Statistics Canada found youth ages 15-24 “experience the highest incident of mental health disorders of any age group in Canada.” Young Canadians are also recognizing the statistics from firsthand accounts, and want to get involved in raising awareness.

Ben Shapiro, the head co-ordinator for the 2016 Austen Berlet Campout for Mental Health (ABCampout), got involved in spreading mental health awareness because he realized that there’s more to it than just what we see on the surface.

“After recognizing the prevalence of mental illness, especially among my peers at school, I wanted to do something,” he said. “If everyone could see how universal these issues are, we could work towards better treatment and greater acceptance.”

Shapiro added that mental health awareness affects students in particular because while there’s stress, there’s freedom as well, and “no parents checking up on us”.

All about the Austen Berlet Campout

The ABCampout is a 24-hour long event in Victoria Park that honours the memory of Austen Berlet, who took his own life in 2009 after facing severe depression and bipolar disorder for two years. At just 16-years-old, he had a theoretical physics thesis published by the University of Texas. Berlet was also working on semi-professional skateboarding. The Phi Gamma Delta fraternity at Western University was touched by his story, and has run the event for six years.

Shapiro added that the event “is still about Austen, but this year, and the past couple of years and the future years will also be about everyone else,” as well as the prevalence and impact of mental illness.

“He could have been one of my peers, just like any of us,” Shapiro said when asked what in particular about Berlet’s story that gripped him, “Austen’s story helped me to grasp the fact that mental health issues are very real and could happen to anyone.”

Over the past two years, ABCampout has collected $300,000. The proceeds brought in some new mental health counsellors to Western’s campus. Shapiro said he hopes money raised from this year could hire more counsellors, along with supporting mental health programs.

He said talking to people about their worries and feelings opens up your mind on mental illness. “You start to realize that everyone, or almost everyone, has issues and is dealing with stuff but no one makes it seem like they are.”

Shapiro also said simply talking to your friends about how serious mental illness is, and letting them know you are here to support them is one of the best ways to raise awareness. He added that mental health awareness has grown in the past couple of years because of the amount of events surrounding it.

“I really think people are starting to become more aware of this, talk about it. We’re definitely not there yet, and we have a long way to go, but it’s a good start.”

Beyond the ABCampout

CMHA has some mental health seminars scheduled in April, after the ABCampout. They will host “Journeys to My Authentic Self: Stories of Self-Discovery”, where people will share their experiences with mental illness and injury, along with how they coped. It will run on April 8 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the CMHA Middlesex Queens Avenue site (534 Queens Avenue, London, Ontario).

The CHMA Huron Street site (648 Huron Street, London Ontario) will also have suicide awareness seminars, where you can learn signs of suicidal distress and what to do to help. They will run on April 19 and April 23 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The same site will also have a “Mental Illness in the Workplace: Lived Experiences and Workplace Resources” workshop on April 27, educating employers and employees about how to support those with mental illness in the workplace.

The 65th annual Mental Health Week will also take place from May 2 to 8. The CMHA is encouraging people to speak up against mental health discrimination and stigma, by using the #GETLOUD hashtag. There will also be some events across Canada to raise awareness.

So far, London and Middlesex do not have anything listed, but you can visit cmhamiddlesex.ca for more information.