‘Keep growing’: Chalk the Quad empowers mental health awareness, resources
Students drew messages like “Tough moments never survive, but tough people do” on the sidewalks of the Shaw Quadrangle on Tuesday. The Chalk the Quad event intended to raise awareness for suicide prevention. Maddison Cox | Contributing Photographer
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Editor’s note: This article includes mention of suicide and violence.
A Barnes Center at The Arch stand centered in front of Carnegie Library offered Play-Doh, affirmation cards, stress balls and, of course, chalk.
Syracuse University students paused their walks to class to draw on the sidewalks together and spread positive mental health messages as part of Tuesday’s Chalk the Quad event.
“Whether someone is on the Quad walking by our signs, or someone is writing something on the ground and someone walks by and sees those, or if they take a resource off our table today…we’re just hoping to spread awareness,” said Hope Michael, the health promotion specialist at the Barnes Center.
The Barnes Center hosted Chalk the Quad to spread positive messages and promote mental health resources on campus. September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Month, where different organizations like the Barnes Center hope to spread awareness, reduce stigma and share resources.
SU students contributed to the chalk drawings as they walked by the stand. Some of the students’ drawings and messages depicted Otto the Orange saying, “Otto Loves You” and “Tough moments never survive, but tough people do.”
Grace Ferguson, a senior majoring in music industry, drew “We Love You” and “You Rock.” Ferguson had class in five minutes, yet stopped by the stand and picked up a piece of chalk to support the mental health cause.
“I’m just trying to support the Barnes Center and Suicide Prevention Month, which is very, very important,” Ferguson said.
Thea Fortin, a freshman majoring in health and exercise science, drew a message that says “Keep Growing.” She was unsure of what to draw at first, but gained inspiration from the messages around her. Fortin said mental health and suicide prevention are very important topics to her.
Chalk wasn’t the only way to spread positive messages at the event. A full-length mirror was propped in front of the Barnes Center stand, giving students the opportunity to write affirmations on sticky notes and place them on the mirror. Barnes Peer Leaders also propped up signs with affirmations alongside walkways.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month, prompting the Barnes Center to host its annual event. The Barnes Center promoted its wide variety of mental health resources at the event, like pet therapy and the mind spa. Maddison Cox | Contributing Photographer
Michael said she and her colleagues at the Barnes Center collaborate to come up with community events to involve students in spreading positive messages and letting people know they’re not alone.
“I’m always looking for ways to enhance our mental wellness, but also how that connects back to our community,” Michael said.
She encourages students to ask specifically what resources they’re looking for when seeking out support. There are a lot of options, she said, but figuring out what that accommodation looks like is easier when students have specific requests.
When it comes to mental health resources, the Barnes Center offers services like pet therapy, counseling and the Crowley Family MindSpa. One of the reasons the Barnes Center offers events like Chalk the Quad is to provide a wider variety of services, Michael said.
“Counseling is a wonderful resource, but that might not be what every student needs,” Michael said.
The Peer Leaders at the Barnes Center helped with the event. The goal of the Peer Leader program is not to tell students what to do, but to provide information and safety tools, Michael said. She explained how Peer Leaders organize different activities throughout the semester to provide education and skills-building opportunities for students.
Michael said Peer Leaders have four areas of focus: mental health and wellness, sexual health and education, sexual relationship violence prevention and substance use harm reduction. Students are encouraged to get support from peers on these topics.
The Barnes Center aims to remind students they’re loved and supported within their community, like through events such as Chalk the Quad, she said.
“There is such a strength in community, and also just checking in on our friends and family goes such a long way,” Michael said.
Students, faculty or staff looking for support may access the Barnes Center resources here. Dial or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
