Today marks the start of Mental Health Awareness Week activities at Penn State. Several student associations will host activities at the HUB throughout the week, including relaxation rooms, body image workshops, and even a TED talk by Kevin Breel.

The awareness week is held each year to create a dialogue about mental health on campus. You’ll see lots of elephants this week in balloon animal and hashtag form (#pinkelephant). The elephant is the symbol for mental health awareness as mental health is the big problem that everyone seems to ignore, just like ignoring “the elephant in the room.” Mental health problems are more common than you would think — 1 in every 4 college-aged adults have a diagnosable mental health disorder. Below is a complete list of scheduled activities, along with the theme for each day.

Monday 10/21

Stress and Anxiety

•  Counseling and Psychological Services or CAPS will host relaxation rooms in 233 HUB from 1-2:30 p.m. and the HUB auditorium from 2:30-4:00 p.m.
• University Health Services will teach yoga from 4:00-5:00 p.m. in room 205 in the UHS Building.

Tuesday 10/22

Eating Disorders

• Stacy Nadeau, one of the Dove Real Beauty Models, will speak at the HUB auditorium at 8:00 p.m.
• LGBTA is hosting a body image workshop in 101 Boucke at 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday 10/23

Depression and Suicide

• Penn State’s chapter of Active Minds, a student run mental health advocacy group, will host a discussion panel at 5:00 p.m. in the HUB auditorium.

Thursday 10/24

Healthy Relationships

• Kevin Breel, a Mental Health Activist known for his viral TED talk, will speak in 22 Deike at 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., with a question and answer session following each talk.

Friday 10/25

Resiliency

Along with the scheduled events there will be tables at the HUB from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. each day with informational pamphlets and free giveaways. So get out there and start the conversation!