CREDIT: ALLEN GAYNOR
Students shared their positive thoughts for others to enjoy in Forwell Hall during the Yellow Umbrella Project awareness campaign last week.

The FSU, in association with the Canadian Student Alliance, launched the second year of the Yellow Umbrella Project in Forwell Hall last Tuesday.

Ending the stigma surrounding mental health and starting the conversation about mental health on college campuses are the project’s main goals. These goals are depicted in the emblematic yellow umbrella that provides shelter for students from mental health stigma, enveloping them in its hopeful and happy hue.

The campaign can be engaged on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using the #CSAYUP or #FSUYUP hashtags.

In Forwell Hall, students were encouraged to stop and talk about mental health and share their thoughts, both positive and negative.

Positive thoughts were written on a bright yellow banner for others to read, whereas negative thoughts were written on yellow balloons, which were filled with helium and released Tuesday afternoon.

Jessica Brook, VP External and Academic Affairs for the FSU and a member of the promotions team for the Yellow Umbrella Project, explained the importance of sharing.

“Students have so many positive thoughts, so let’s write them on [the banner] so that people can see them,” Brook said. “If people are having a bad day, they can look at the wall and maybe it will help brighten them up.”

“[The balloons allow students to] release their negative thoughts, get them out of their body [and] relax.”

Students were also given the opportunity to release their stress by walking a bubble wrap catwalk, an activity that didn’t fail to put a smile on the poppers’ faces and filled Forwell hall with a pleasant crackling sound throughout the morning. Promotional stress balls and buttons were also given out to students to combat stress and help keep the Yellow Umbrella message alive.

Brook highlighted the importance of the services offered at the college to help those with mental health issues: Counselling and Accessibility Services (F2010) provides free personal counselling to students dealing with issues such as stress management, relationship difficulties, underachievement in school, and specific mental health conditions; the Addictions Center helps students dealing with substance, gambling, and other addictions; and the Testing Centre provides assistance to students with disabilities in writing tests and assignments.

The Yellow Umbrella Project will return next semester, and anyone wanting to get involved is encouraged to visit the FSU Office (SC2001) to share ideas for the next awareness week; volunteer opportunities are also available through contacting Anthony Sawyers, VP Entertainment (FSUEntertain@fanshawec.ca) and Cheriss Marson, VP Internal (FSUInternal@fanshawec.ca).