Editor’s Note: This article contains reference to suicide and mental illness.

The Mental Health Ambassadors are a group of students who work to inform the student body about mental health resources on campus, reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and provide an opportunity for students to learn how they can provide support to their peers. 

Reagan Griffin, a fourth-year studying social work, has been a mental health ambassador for three and a half years and said she joined the program because it spoke to her passion of destigmatizing mental health and also allowed her to build connections with her peers. 

“For me personally, it was an opportunity to advocate for myself as someone that has had mental health struggles and experiences,” Griffin said. “It was a platform that I was able to use to connect with the student body in a way that may be difficult to — mental health does have this stigma around it. So as a mental health ambassador, I’ve been able to work to destigmatize that.” 

Christy Sigmon, a mental health ambassador supervisor and Outreach and Resiliency Specialist at Prevention Services, said one of the main goals of the program is for students to feel comfortable and knowledgeable when it comes to mental health resources on campus. 

“I want our students to know that at any given time, any human could need support and need assistance,” Sigmon said. “And reaching out for that is something that we want to help our students know is something that they not only know is okay to do, but they know how to do it and where to reach out for support.”  

One way students can receive support is through the CARES referral process. Students are encouraged to submit a referral online whether they are concerned about a fellow student or even if they themselves are seeking help but are unsure what resources are available. 

After a referral, Prevention Services has a team of certified mental health professionals and social workers who can work with students depending on their needs. 

The Mental Health Ambassadors work to make sure students know what options are available   while also destigmatizing the referral process and informing students that a referral can be made for any type of concerning behavior they observe.

Lilly Kirn, a third-year studying psychology and a second-year mental health ambassador, said a mental health ambassador’s role in the CARES report process can be multifaceted.

“It can also just be referring your friend if you feel like they’re struggling in school, referring your friend if you feel like they’re struggling financially,” Kirn said. 

Mental health ambassadors also go through a series of training sessions, including learning about substance abuse, stress reduction and the “Question, Persuade, Refer” process, which teaches individuals how to help respond when someone is experiencing suicidal ideation. 

Ambassadors also attend and lead events, whether that means organizing therapy dogs to come to campus or tabling in Talley Student Union to provide support and information.

The program also emphasizes the importance of having a diverse group of mental health ambassadors that are representative of the entire student body. 

“Our supervisors do a great job of interviewing people and selecting people that really accurately represent the diversity of our student body,” Kirn said. “And it means that when we go out for interviews, or we do videos, or we do campaigning on campus, or tabling, people can see a familiar face, a diverse face, that they feel is representative of their community.” 

However, while ambassadors advocate and work to support their peers’ mental health, it’s also imperative they look out for their own mental health. Supporting and checking in on the ambassadors is a large part of Sigmon’s role as supervisor. 

“Christy and our other supervisors for MHA are absolutely amazing about if you need to step back from a project because you have a lot of other stuff going on,” Kirn said. “They really emphasize that your role as a student comes first, and having that differentiation and that boundary between your role as a student and your role as a mental health ambassador can be really important.” 

Griffin said one year she needed to take a semester off from being an ambassador, and she received the support she needed from her supervisors. When she came back, she was able to hit the ground running. 

“I got my energy back, and they were so supportive, supporting me to chair both of these first-time mental health events,” Griffin said. “And they were there for me every step of the way, checking in, making sure I wasn’t taking on too much on top of a school load and workload.”

One of the Mental Health Ambassadors’ student-led events, “Glow Up for Mental Health,” will take place Nov. 6 at Stafford Commons. The event will feature speeches, a neon dance party, neon swag and an opportunity to learn more about resources on campus. 

“Events like this really allow our student body to come together and have a little bit of fun for a night while spreading a message, while breaking stigma,” Griffin said. 

If you or someone you know is having difficulty processing grief or having a mental health emergency, the Counseling Center can be reached 24 hours a day at 919-515-2423. If you are in a crisis situation and need immediate help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. In the case of a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

The Wolfpack Wellness website offers a plethora of self-help resources regarding mental health and wellness concerns and a comprehensive list of campus services available for those who need guidance. To view an exhaustive list, visit https://wellness.ncsu.edu/resources/.

If you’re seeking professional counseling or other mental health services on campus, visit the Counseling Center’s Getting Started page at https://counseling.dasa.ncsu.edu/get-started/make-an-appointment/ to complete paperwork, set up an appointment and more.