“Always make yourself a priority,” -BeKind2Me.org

Using the above quote as a guide, the Indiana University School of Social Work (IUSSW) has opened a Mental Health Resource Room in University Hall, Room AD 2055, on the IUPUI Campus.

“Repeatedly, students share with us the hardships they face and that they feel emotionally drained and overwhelmed. Unfortunately, this aligned with what we see in classrooms; a decline in motivation, increased stress and anxiety, trouble focusing, and a need for additional support academically (on and off campus), so students can meet their basic needs,” said Devina Jani, director of career services, IU School of Social Work.

Jani continues, “In response, we created the Mental Health Resource Room. Whether you are a student, alumnus, faculty, staff, friend, or visitor, the space is curated to elicit calming feelings where you can grab a snack, take a moment to gather yourself, catch up with peers, pray, or read the resources. With an array of mental health issues plaguing our community, we knew it was our responsibility to acknowledge and address the increasing impact it directly has on all of us.”

The Resource Room came together with the help of the IU School of Social Work Dean, Tamara Davis, and Leadership, the IU School of Social Work Alumni Association, the Indianapolis Zen Center, and many caring students:

  • Johnny Willems
    • Social Work major
    • Current work-study student, IUSSW Career Services
  • Kaitlyn Cook
    • Art Therapy major
    • Fall 2022 work-study student, IUSSW Career Services
  • Hannah Gravitt
    • Art major
  • DJ Center for Youth, Inc. Change Agents:
    • Mollie Clements
      • General Studies major
      • Former work-study student, IUSSW Career Services
    • Alexandria Edmonds
      • Pre-Social Work major
    • Ashli Trabue
      • Biology major
      • Former work-study student, IUSSW Career Services
    • Jalyn Twyman
      • Public Health major

 

The students were instrumental in preparing the space. Former Career Services Work-Study student, Kaitlyn Cook, has been a part of the initiative since the Fall of 2022. For Johnny Willems, the current Career Services Work-Study student, this has been his main focus. In addition, Hannah Gravitt produced the artwork, and students, Jalyn Twyman and Mollie Clements, created a highlight video of the room. Lastly, the DJ Center for Youth students, in conversations with Jani, gave thoughtful feedback and designed the space to reflect the needs of the persons who would use the room.

The Mental Health Resource Room is open Monday through Friday, and “the only guidelines are to treat the room with care as you would treat yourself,” said Jani.

For questions, please contact Devina Jani, djani@iu.edu.