Bellarmine Raises Awareness During Mental Health Week
By: Mason Sedelmeier
The importance of mental health in young adults cannot be overstated. A 2026 survey conducted by YouGov found that nearly 70% of college students reported experiencing a mental health concern within the past year, with anxiety, stress, depression and ADD/ADHD ranking among the most common issues. Mental health issues are prevalent in college students, and many struggle to recognize it.
Bellarmine students will have the opportunity to learn more about mental wellness and connect with resources during the university’s annual Be Kind To Your Mind Fest Oct. 8, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Quad (or in Frazier Hall or Hilary’s if it rains).
The event is part of Bellarmine’s Convocation Series and will take place during Mental Health Awareness Week. The festival is designed to give students an opportunity to learn about mental health, complete screenings and connect with campus resources.
“The main idea is to take a minute to pause, relax, and ask how you are doing,” Simon Cozzens, Bellarmine case manager, said. “There’s a lot of mental health screenings, screenings for alcohol, cannabis, prescription drugs, so it’ll be a no-judgment place to check in and chat with someone. Mental health is something that we aren’t all super familiar with talking about. The hope is that we can see mental health as something we check in on every now and again and to do so on a way where there isn’t stigma or judgment around it.”
Students can participate in activities and learn more about personal wellness throughout the event. With many college students experiencing mental health challenges, the event provides an opportunity for students to learn healthy ways to cope and become more familiar with the resources available to them.
College can bring academic pressure, heightened responsibility, and big changes that can contribute to stress and affect a student’s overall well-being. Mental health can also play an important role in how students perform in the classroom and handle the everyday challenges. By learning how to recognize signs of stress and other mental health concerns, students can become more aware of when they may need support and where they can find it.
“Students’ mental health plays a direct role and impact in their ability to successfully complete college, so it’s super important that we pay attention to those mental health factors,” Dr. Marlana Bragg, Swope Counseling Center Director, said. “For the individual students, it’s important to know their baselines.”
For instance, Bragg suggests that students should pay attention to their sleep patterns, eating habits and actions in social settings. These issues can be tough to spot, so Bellarmine has a variety of resources to help.
“Sometimes we don’t see these issues in ourselves, so it’s important to be able to know how to support each other,” Bragg said.
“It’s important [that Bellarmine gives students these resources] because mental health matters,” Gunnar Ortiz, freshman business administration major, said. “Surround yourself with positive people and do activities you find positive. Talk to somebody. Don’t keep it in.”
The Swope Counseling Center provides free and confidential short-term mental health services to any currently enrolled Bellarmine student, for both in-person and over-the-phone services. They offer mental health screenings, workshop training, crisis intervention, and individual therapy.
You can contact the Swope Counseling Center at counselingcenter@bellarmine.edu and visit their website.
They may be reached at 502-272-8480. If no one is available to answer your call, dial “2” on the voicemail menu to speak to an on-call counselor. Public Safety can also help you find emergency services and can be reached at 502-272-7777.
The Swope Counseling is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. in Centro, Treece Hall Suite 225.
Comments