"When I was a kid, I found my mom's written plan to divorce my dad. Because of that, I can't trust anyone."
This is one of the recently featured secrets on the user-generated site PostSecrets.com. The site allows people to anonymously send in secrets ranging from humorous to those that expose deeper issues.
The University of Memphis' Active Minds and Suicide Training, Education, and Prevention Services programs collected student secrets around campus throughout the month of April, and on Thursday, student secrets will be shared through an unveiling featuring professional mime artist Michael Sanders and the Playback Memphis improv group.
The campus community is invited to this exercise of mental health awareness in room 225 of the Theatre Building beginning at 6:30 p.m.
PostSecrets to Success is part of the organization's suicide prevention and mental health awareness efforts.
Part of Active Minds' mission is lowering the stigma surrounding issues related to mental health so that students will feel more comfortable seeking assistance. Active Minds is part of a larger nation-wide network of students on college campuses working for mental health awareness.
President Drew Barnett, a senior psychology major, is hopeful that the PostSecrets event will help spark the conversation here at the U of M.
Through combined efforts during the fall and spring semesters, more than 120 secrets were collected. Mime Michael Sanders and Playback will be selecting different topics to act on as they engage with audience members.
"We're trying to get the audience involved," Barnett said. "We've selected different topics, such as loneliness, isolation and confusion about future. They're going to pick up topics and try to get the audience to share honest opinions."
A 2011 report from an American College Health Association survey found that almost one-third of college students reported feeling a level of depression that caused difficulties with functioning and almost half have felt overwhelming anxiety in the previous 12 months.
Lead by Dr. Pam Cogdal and Dr. Theresa Okwumabua, Memphis STEPS performs research and provides educational and training services to the U of M campus community related to suicide and the mental and behavioral issues related to it.
Students seeking psychological services on campus can be seen confidentially through the Career & Psychological Counseling Center at no cost to students. Students may apply at Wilder Tower 214 and Wilder Tower 211 any day between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday for counseling services and assessments.
The Center also offers walk-in crisis counseling services during regular office hours and over-the-phone counseling after hours. Students may call 678-HELP and ask for a counselor.
Barnett wants fellow students to understand that they are not alone in having whatever feelings they may have.
"I want students to understand that it's okay to have a problem, but not necessarily okay to keep it to themselves," Barnett said. "They may feel like no one else has ever known what they feel; that is really not the case. Rather it's someone in class or a trained counselor, others know what it's like."
Anonymous online screening for mood and anxiety disorders is available at mentalhealthscreening.org/screening/umemphis.
