Williams:

On Thursday, October 11th, College Council’s Mental Health Committee will host You Are Not Alone, an evening of solidarity and support for students who have been impacted by issues affecting their emotional, psychological, or social wellbeing. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. You Are Not Alone will be the culminating event of the College’s Break the Silence Week, a five-day initiative to raise awareness and promote thoughtful and sensitive discussion about depression and suicide.

You Are Not Alone will begin at 9 p.m. in Goodrich Hall. Four students will speak about the challenges they have faced relating to their own ability to fully thrive at Williams or in the world beyond; an open mic for the student body will follow. Counselors from the Health Center and the Chaplain’s Office will be available as resources.

Many students at Williams struggle with depression, alcoholism, disordered eating, heartbreak, anxiety, coming to terms with their sexuality, or a variety of other mental health challenges. Many struggle with the notion of effortless perfection. Many struggle in ways they cannot even articulate. We hope this event will give students a fuller understanding of the nature and spectrum of mental health challenges on campus. We also hope that it will be a step for the Williams community toward becoming an environment where struggle is not equated with failure.

To continue this honest discussion, the Mental Health Committee will facilitate a weekly support network, Good Company, beginning on 10/18, on Thursdays at 9 p.m. in Griffin 1. Come to share. Come to listen. Come to be together, in Good Company.

Sincerely,

Krista Pickett and Gia Recco

Co-Chairs of Mental Health Committee