"Women and Mental Health

On Mon., Mar. 16, the kickoff event for Active Minds, entitled, Women and Mental Health, was held in the Great Room. Active Minds makes its debut as a new student-run mental health awareness organization working to eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness. Consisting of two speakers sharing some intimate, personal, and at times even uncomfortable material, the mission of Active Minds was thoroughly demonstrated.First created in 2004 at the University of Pennsylvania, Active Minds has become a nationwide organization, both on the collegiate and regional level. Promoting awareness, and making an effort to eradicate the stigma associated with mental health, Active Minds seeks to follow its mission through sponsoring and organizing campus-wide events.

"Active Minds at Muhlenberg College" received official recognition in Dec. by the College making the group the 182nd national chapter. Since then, seven additional chapters have formed across the country, making the total 189 chapters nationwide.

As attendees of "Women and Mental Health" entered the Great Room Monday Night, Girl, Interrupted, a hit 1999 drama starring Angelina Jolie and Winona Ryder was playing on a dual projection screen. Offering an intimate space, the seventy-seat warm arrangement of the audience produced an atmosphere of comfort and safety.

Introducing the event were Active Minds board members and event planners Alana Lerer '11 and Jessica Gutwetter '11. Starting with some startling statistics regarding the universal effectiveness of mental health, the program then was turned over to Jacob Kreeger '11 at which point he introduced his mother and sister.

Lauren Kreeger, Jacob's sister, began the speaker portion of the event by talking about her personal experiences, shocking the audience by saying she had been in and out of institutions on nearly a dozen different occasions. Even adding that her stays at Carrier Clinic in Belle Meade, NJ included Electric Compulsive Therapy, an extreme procedure sometimes used as a tool to cope with depression. Ms. Kreeger offered a gift to the audience in her comfort with the subject.

Diane Kreeger, Jacob's Mom, followed, emitting an observational point of view on the topic. Having gone through her own personal experience beginning in the 1970's when "people didn't know about mental health; people didn't know how to deal with it." Mrs. Kreeger stated that she had seen much, both from her daughter and from her own point of view. Remembering one example from her teen years, Mrs. Kreeger said she "could remember sitting in her room, listening to music, just trying to find some peace of mind - and even that was looked at as off-color."

Continuing on to emphasize that her son had seen it all too, Mrs. Kreeger pointed out that "hell had been visited" on several occasions through her daughter's experiences. "It's a series of times I'd never like to have to deal with again, but I know now, through what I've learned and allowed myself to learn, that I can handle it. we all can." Mrs. Kreeger went on to say that the bottom line was awareness: awareness of yourself, awareness in the community, and awareness put into action.

Given the intensity of the speaker's experiences, guests were eager to ask well throughout, discussion-provoking questions on the topic. Staying for two hours after the event, both Mother and Daughter Kreeger stayed to answer questions and talk more intimately, one-on-one, with interested guests.

A well-attended night, "Women and Mental Health" has inspired students to continue talking about the topic well after the event. The next Active Minds sponsored event will be held in April. To get involved, or for more information please contact bergactiveminds@gmail.com.