On Monday Sept. 30, the Multicultural Center, with a collaborative effort from Counseling Services and the Office for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Compliance (EDIC), hosted a “Journal Your Journey” event in honor of Suicide Prevention Month.
Students were able to color and decorate their own little journals as a way to express themselves and strive toward their mental health goals. Dr. Cesar León, Counseling Services’ Multicultural Specialist, held the event in order “to create a safe space for students to express their creativity while learning about the crucial role of self-care in promoting mental well-being,” he told The Ramapo News.
Dr. León noted that he and Megan Johnston, Ramapo’s Health Educator, “envisioned this event as a creative way to promote self-care during Suicide Prevention Month and beyond, particularly among students of color, as this population has seen increasing rates of suicide.”
Students of all grade levels and backgrounds attended and were even provided with prompts that Dr. León said would help “kickstart their writing journey.” Prompts included, “What am I grateful for today?” and “What aspects of my identity felt most salient or important to me today?”
Journaling has been known to be a fantastic coping mechanism and outlet, but honoring and understanding Suicide Prevention Month is not restricted to just that. As Dr. León says, “suicide prevention is a proactive and ongoing journey that emphasizes the importance of regular self-care, meaningful connections, and the courage to seek help and utilize available resources when needed.”
If any student is experiencing a mental health emergency during business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., they are encouraged to head to D-216 or call the 24/7 main line at 201-684-7522 to be connected with an emergency on-call therapist. Students may also call or text the National Crisis Hotline at 988, call 911 or go to their local emergency department.
ajones11@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of Dr.Cesar León
