My first document

MissionTeam 18:

Mental Health- East 2022-2023

Learn about the significance behind our mission, Mental Health, and how prioritized this throughout the year

18

Learn about the events and activities MissionTeam 18 participated in within the 2022-2023 year

Mental Health Digest:

o According to the World Health Organization, mental health disorders are the leading cause of disability globally.

o According to the National Institute of Mental Health found, 1 in 5 adults in the United States experiences some form of mental illness.

o Half of all lifetime cases of mental illness start by age 14, and ¾ of mental health conditions have their onset before age 24, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

o Poor mental health during adolescence can also lead to negative outcomes such as academic struggles, social isolation, and increased risk for substance abuse and suicide. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals aged 15-29 years globally, according to the World Health Organization.

Our Mission:

Our mission as Mission Team 18, is to target the lack of resources, and lack of awareness, and destigmatize the negative perceptions of mental health we have in our society today.

Our vision, as Mission Team 18, is to cultivate an environment of growth and understanding- to create an impact as the next generation of mental health advocates.

Meet Our Team

Joanna Joseph Squad: Advocacy

Hi there! My name is Joanna Joseph, and I am the Mission Team Leader of Mission Team 18: Mental Health 2022-2023. I am currently a sophomore at ASU studying Medical Studies and Psychology! Mental health is something that impacts everyone- regardless of who you are. As the next generation of mental health leaders, I believe that it is so important that we equip ourselves and our community with the tools, awareness, and resources necessary to both destigmatize wrongful perceptions of mental health/illness, and to provide support and recovery to those undergoing battles that are not always visible!

Diya Murthy Squad: Advocacy

Hi!! My name is Diya Murthy and I am a freshman majoring in Political Science with a minor in Economics. I love sports, cooking, traveling, and reading and writing. Mental health, especially being a student-athlete throughout high school, has been extremely important to me. I believe it is very important for everyone to have a healthy outlet to voice their emotions, and to be themselves. Keeping up with mental health in college can be a hard task, especially with everything else going on. I think it is important to prioritize self-care activities and that’s why I am in the Mental Health Mission Team!

Smarth Kapoor Squad: Discussions

Hi everyone, my name is Smarth Kapoor and I am a freshman at ASU Tempe studying Biomedical Engineering. Mental health is especially important to me because it has had a significant impact on my life in the past.

Meet Our Team

Hi everyone! My name is Audrey Heiden, and I'm a first-year student majoring in psychology here at ASU! I chose Mission Team #18 - Mental Health because I believe that by changing the stigma around mental health, we can help raise awareness around the issue and achieve equal access to resources for everyone regardless of status.

My name is Anna Melis, I'm a second-year Architecture student with a minor in Sustainability. Mental health is important for many reasons but at the end of the day, we all live in our brains and it's important to facilitate an environment that supports wellness.

Hi my name is Tatum! I’m a senior studying business tourism. Mental health is important to me because I think it is something that many people misinterpret. My goal is to help educate others and help them find the resources they need.

Audrey Heiden Squad: Advocacy

Anna Melis Squad: Service & Networking

Tatum Muto Squad: Service & Networking

Meet Our Team

Hi guys!! I'm Valerie and I'm studying Business Management here at WPC. Mental health is so important to me and such a vital part of life that is hardly talked about. Each day can be hard for someone so it’s best to be kind to everyone!!

Hey! My name is Soham Gawali and I am a freshman studying Neuroscience and Data Science. Mental health matters to me because of its prevalence and over-stigmatization in recent years. I believe spreading awareness and dismantling mental health to make it more understandable for the public is a crucial first step to change.

Hey, I am Justina Thomas! I am a freshman majoring in Human Systems Engineering. Most of the people I have met in my life have come across depression, anxiety, or other mental health struggles. However, there is a stigma around mental health and this issue still lacks awareness. I believe it’s important to spread mental health resources as I want to see more people around me recovering from their generational traumas. This is why mental health is important to me.

Valerie Rodriguez Squad: Discussions

Soham Gawali Squad: Advocacy

Justina Thomas Squad: Advocacy

Meet Our Team

Logan Mizuba : Service & Networking

Hey! My name is Logan Mizuba and I’m a senior in my last semester studying Architecture! Mental afflictions are widespread and potentially harmful if left untreated for long enough. I grew up around people who suffered heavily for their mental disorders and illnesses, so it’s now my goal to spread awareness and bring to light all of these mental health disparities so more people may be open to addressing them and bettering their minds.

Meagan Squier Squad: Social Media

My name is Meagan Squier. I am a sophomore majoring in psychology. Mental health is important to me because it's so overlooked. People have to hide their mental illnesses to be liked. I want to try and change the narrative on mental health so it is seen in a more positive light.

Greyson Ulibarri Squad: Social Media

Hi, I'm Grey Ulibarri and I'm a sophomore studying computer systems engineering. Mental health is incredibly important to me because I want to help prevent any further suicides, and I believe focusing on bettering people’s mental health will accomplish that.

Meet Our Team

Jesus Alvarado, Junior, Psychology, Mental Health is important because health is wealth.

Kaylee

: Service & Networking

My name is Meagan Squier. I am a sophomore majoring in psychology. Mental health is important to me because it's so overlooked. People have to hide their mental illnesses to be liked. I want to try and change the narrative on mental health so it is seen in a more positive light.

Nicholas Amjadi, Freshman, Biological Sciences, mental health is important to me because I have suffered from it as well from the past and it is one of the worst sufferings a human can go through. I want to help as many people as possible who suffer from mental health so they don’t have to go through the depression/pain

Jesus Alvarado Squad: Social Media

Kallas Squad

Nicholas Amjadi Squad: Social Media

Meet Our Team

My name is Daria Whitaker and I am freshman studying Marketing. Mental health is something that affects many of those closest to me and being able to help break the stigmas surrounding mental health not only would help them but, help everyone struggling with mental health.

Brooke Berg Squad: Discussions

Daria Whitaker Squad: Service & Networking

Aditi Kelwalkar Squad: Service & Networking

In our Team’s effort to network and connect with members inside of our Mission Team, and within the NGSC, Mission Team 18 held a social networking event where students from all different mission teams came together to discuss important mental health issues that college students face. These included topics such as stress displacement, to disordered eating, etc. Coming together as a student community allows us to address topics that pertain to not only ourselves and our peers, but also to educate and reflect deeply on outside experiences.

As college students, we often undergo high levels of stress secondary to various academic pressure, social demands, financial concerns, uncertainties about their future. etc. The Discussion Squad, consisting of members Brooke, Valerie, Smarth, and Aditi held a “Dealing with Academic Stress” Discussion, considering various consequences of stress such as poor academic performance, mental health issues, physical health problems, and interpersonal relationships. They also provided numerous healthy coping strategies for students to help manage their stress and maintain their well-being.

LEARNING

"Take Your Pills" is a thought-provoking documentary that explores the rise of prescription stimulants, such as Adderall, among college students and young professionals. MT 18 member, Anna Melis, introduced this domuntary to explore the societal pressures for students to perform at high levels, as well as to expose the profit of big pharma companies. “Take Your Pills” investigates potential long-term effects of stimulant use on the brain and body, and the future implications of the growing use of these drugs in our society.

The foods we eat have a significant impact on our mental health and well-being, and choosing to cook with sustainable, whole foods not only benefits our own health, but also the health of the planet! That’s why Mission Team member, Kaylee Kallas, held a cooking event, teaching that a well-balanced diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins is both feasible and delicious. By making conscious choices about the foods we eat and the way we cook them, we can nourish our bodies and minds, while also doing our part to promote a more sustainable future.

LEARNING

NETWORKING

Exercise is a great way to prioritize mental health, and keep your heart healthy! A hike up “A” mountain was an opportunity for us as a Mission Team to connect with each other, and to illustrate the need to bring physical health into the mental health conversations. This hike which was lead by MT 18 member and Section Lead Logan Mizuba, and was an awesome way to get out, have fun and enjoy the sun, and also bring awareness to the importance of physical health on mental health.

Mental health and eating disorders are closely interconnected. There are numerous diagnosis for someone struggling with disordered eating such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, etc. These are serious illnesses that have significant impact on a person's physical health, mental well-being, even impacting an individual’s quality of life. the Mission Team Discussion Squad consisting of members: Valerie Rodriguez, Brooke Berg, Aditi Kelwalkar, and Smarth Kapoor, tackled this challenging topic which included conversations about different triggers, genetic predispositions, environmental influences, family dynamic, and psychological stressors. If you or someone you know is struggling with disordered eating, it is critical to seek professional help.

According to the National Institute of Health, the increasing rates of elder abuse and neglect has significant ramifications on mental health. Love for our Elders was an amazing event that allowed for us as a mission team to advocate for this community, and to write meaningful letters to elders all over the world. With the intention of bringing about awareness to the stigma around the elderly community, this event was a step to counteract society's ignorance to the seniors one letter a a time. Learn more at: https://loveforourelders.org

The story of Ben’s Bells is characterized by loss, and hope. In 2002, Ben’s Bell’s founder, Jeannette Maré's lost her son Ben, prompting her to create ceramic wind chimes with loved ones to aid in their healing. This sparked the idea for Ben's Bells, which aims to teach the impact of intentional acts of kindness. Four hundred bells were randomly distributed in Tucson on the first anniversary of Jeannette’s son, Ben’s, death, which started a ripple effect of people sharing stories of grief and healing. Ben's Bells has since become a nonprofit, distributing thousands of bells and reaching over 1.6 million students with kindness education programming.

Learn more about Ben’s Bells: https://bensbells.org/about/founder-story/

4 3 Learning

1. Dealing with Academic Stress Discussion

2. Take Your Pills Documentary Viewing

3. Cooking with Kaylee

4. Love for Our Elders

1. Social Networking Event

2. Mental Health Hike

3. Disordered Eating Discussion

1. Love for Our Elders

2. Ben’s Bells

2 1 Service Advocacy

1. Disordered Eating Discussion

2. Love for Our Elders

Recommended Resources

● Active Minds @ASU

● ASU Counseling services

○ (M-F: 8:00AM-5:00PM acrossASU campuses)

● ASU Dedicated Crisis Line

○ 480-921-1006

● Center for Mindfulness @ the Downtown Phoenix Campus

● The Zen Den @ Farmers building

ASUAffiliates Resources for Immediate Help

● National Suicide Prevention Hotline

○ (+1) 800-273-8255

● Mental HealthTreatment Locator

○ (+1) 800-64-PANIC

● National Eating DisorderAssociation

○ (+1) 800-931-2237

● CrisisText Line

Learn MoreAbout Mental Health and Illness

○ TALK to 741-741

● Mayo Clinic Research Departments and Divisions: Psychiatry and Psychology

● Depression and BipolarAlliance

○ https://www.dbsalliance.org

● SeizeTheAwkward

○ https://seizetheawkward.org/

● The National Institute for Mental Health

● Centers for Disease Control:About Mental Health

● Psych Central

Ted Talks:

● The Hidden Power Of Sad Songs and Rainy Days

○ Susan Cain

● There's No Shame In Taking Care Of Your Mental Health

○ Sangu Delle

● How To Start A Conversation About Suicide

○ Jeremy Forbes

Youtube:

● Psych2Go

● Matthias J. Barker

● TheAnxiety Go

More of a Visual Person? Or a Reader?

● Searching for Meaning: Idealism, Bright Minds, Disillusionment, and Hope

○ by James

T. Webb

● What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing

○ by Oprah Winfrey, Bruce

● The Strength of Our Scars

○ by Bianca Sparacino

D. Perry

● Healing: Our Path from Mental Illness to Mental Health

○ byThomas Insel, MD

● Loving Someone with Suicidal Thoughts: What Family, Friends, and Partners Can Say and Do

○ by Stacey Freedenthal, Ph.D

● You Are Not Alone: The NAMI Guide

○ by Dr. Ken Duckworth