Messages written in chalk, like “You are never alone” and “Stomp out stigma,” are scattered all over campus. These messages were written by the members of EWU’s Active Minds chapter in celebration of National Day Without Stigma.
This is one of the events put on by the Active Minds’ EWU chapter. Active Minds is a group that educates students about mental illness issues, lowers the negative attitude surrounding mental illness and encourages those struggling with these issues.
Sophomore Nicole Stearman began the process to create a chapter of Active Minds at Eastern last spring. While their family has a great support system at home, her sister had been going through difficult times and told her sister how lucky she was to be involved with other campus groups and to have the support system on campus.
“‘She said ‘you’re so lucky to have somewhere to go, I don’t have anywhere to go,’” Stearman said. “At that time I started thinking ‘maybe I should start a club that focuses on mental health so I can involve people and make that sort of community. [A club like] Pride is huge, but she’s right there is no club [that focuses on mental health issues.]”
Stearman has a tattoo of an anchor on her left wrist which matches the anchor tattoo on her sister’s right wrist. This represents the bond between Nicole Stearman and her sister, who was diagnosed with depression, agora and anxiety at age 14 and schizoaffective disorder at age 15.
After reading an article in The Easterner that mentioned Active Minds, Stearman printed out the tool kit from the Active Minds’s website with instructions on how to start a chapter. She then reached out to EWU’s Counseling and Psychological Services.
Lisa Olson of CAPS met with Stearman last Spring to see if there were any organizations like Active Minds at EWU. According to Olson, there were not any groups on campus that focused on mental health.
“It’s a wonderful way for students to learn about mental health and be able to discuss concerns or issues without any stigma associated with it,” Olson said. “We’re really pleased to have that kind of organization on campus and we’re also hoping it can let students know they can get the support and counseling they need.” Olson also led Stearman to the psychology department where she got in contact with Russell Kolts, who acts as the adviser.
Kolts believes that the members of EWU’s Active Minds chapter want to change the culture on campus that views mental illness with a negative stigma to one that is supportive of students suffering from mental illness.
“People who struggle with these issues will not feel so cut off and alone,” Kolts said. “They’ll feel like they have a connection to others … and maybe have an easier time making that first trip to the counseling center to make an appointment or share with a friend when they are feeling suicidal.”

According to their website, Active Minds is a national nonprofit organization with over 350 chapters in the United States.
Zach Oxford, who is majoring in psychology, is the vice president of Active Minds. He joined the group to help spread the message of the club.
“Mental illness is what people think it is,” Oxford said. “I think people don’t realize how many people actually suffer. It’s great to show people out there that it’s not as rare as they think it is.”
Stearman was diagnosed with social phobia disorder in high school.
With a combination of the support of her family, her friends and medication, she has come far in the last two years.
Although she believes that the stigma of mental illness at EWU is not as bad as it could be, Stearman says there is work to be done when it comes to the behavior of others on campus.
“It’s being accepted, but I have heard the language like ‘this is schizo’ or ‘the weather is bi-polar’ and that’s a problem,” Stearman said.
According to Kolts, anyone who is struggling with a mental illness like depression anxiety will have a harder time dealing with the difficulties of their emotions if they feel other people around them have a certain kind of mindset towards them.
“There’s enough of a social stigma around it that people often [at] times don’t have the sense of feeling safe and supported and in many cases it’s the opposite,” Kolts said. “A lot of times people feel that if other people knew they were anxious or struggling with depression or other difficult emotions, that other people would look down upon them.”
In addition to National Day Without Stigma, Active Minds will be hosting other events.
They are working with the Veterans Center and will bring speakers from Fairchild Airforce Base for Veterans Day.
For Stearman, the ultimate goal at the moment is to get Active Minds established on campus and to get in touch with the Active Minds coordinator in the area.
“I would love to expand everywhere and anywhere,” Stearman said. “One of my friends is in a sorority. I feel like we could do some work with Greek Life and this issue. People who aren’t in any clubs, people who are in a bunch of clubs. People who are in one club. I really don’t care, I just want people to come.”

EWU Counseling and Psychological Services

Address

225 Martin Hall
Cheney, WA 99004

Phone

509.359.2366