THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE

Mental Health Committee:
The Mental Health Committee (MHC) works to raise awareness of various mental health issues and combat stigma through discussions, events, and proposals for change. Understanding that stigmas exist from various backgrounds and creating safe spaces for conversation is core to the committee. Mental health is important and applicable to everyone, but normally is only mentioned when faced with the aftermath of an extreme tragedy or when it becomes convenient to do so. This is why MHC's advocacy efforts are centered on destigmatizing mental health, connecting students to both on and off-campus resources, and relaying feedback and opinions from students to administration. MHC has and continues to host and partner on events, work on proposals (such as the Wellness Days Initiative and the Trauma-Informed Teaching Initiative), and more. Some of our initiatives for the 2023-2024 academic year can be found below and on our website. If you would like to join MHC or have an idea for an initiative, please email us at sgmhc@bu.edu or send us a message on Instagram at any time.

MHC CO-CHAIRS

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Jessica Sullivan (jsullivn@bu.edu)
Hello! My name is Jessica Sullivan and I am a senior majoring in psychology and minoring in Deaf studies from Lowell, MA! This is my fourth year in student government and I am looking forward to what this year will bring. Outside of StuGov, I am a research assistant at the Medical Campus and the Vision and Cognition Lab. My goals for the year are to increase equity and visibility for low-income and first-generation college students throughout student government and the university as a whole. Through my work with the Mental Health Committee, I am also committed to increasing the transparency and accessibility of existing mental health resources on campus, as well as working towards the establishment of new resources to better suit the needs of the student body.

Hello, my name is Jazzalin, but everyone calls me Jazz, and I am originally from Marshfield, MA. I am a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences studying Political Science and minoring in Deaf Studies. This is my fourth year in Student Government, with my start being as a member of the Mental Health Committee. I am so honored to get the chance to help represent the class of 2024 in CAS as a senator, and continue my work on Mental Health advocacy and ending the stigma.

MHC RESOURCES & INITIATIVES

Trauma-Informed Teaching:
The use of trauma-informed language and content warnings can help ensure that the classroom is a safe space for students from all backgrounds. The trauma-informed teaching initiative aims to have an open and honest conversation with faculty members in the form of a workshop to share experiences and advice for creating a more welcoming classroom environment where sensitive content may be discussed. The initiative aims to encourage professors to utilize content warnings on their syllabi, as well as explore alternative assignments and approaches for students who feel unsafe with classroom content.

College of General Studies Student Acclimation:
Led by former CGS students in the committee, MHC recognizes that students in the College of General Studies often wish there was more help in their transition into BU. Our goal is to help create a judgment-free space to learn about Boston University and the city itself while trying to navigate it all as newly independent adults. The CGS initiative will hopefully create a mentorship program, a welcome event, and a London study abroad event that helps CGS freshman navigate their first year.