MSU and Pathways, Inc. offer mental health support group

Morehead State Counseling & Health Services, in partnership with Pathways, Inc., is creating a regular support group to meet the mental health needs of students.

The “Let’s Talk About It!” support group will meet every Tuesday and Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. during the fall semester beginning Tuesday, Sept. 3. Tuesday support groups will focus on Recovery and Mental Health Education while Wednesday support groups will center on Skills Building for Recovery and Support.

All meetings will be in Room 320 of the Adron Doran University Center (ADUC), and all MSU students are welcome to attend.

Angela Crowe, mental health peer support specialist at Pathways, Inc., said she reached out to the Counseling & Health Services after working with several students struggling with social skills, trauma, gender/sexuality issues, time management, and self-esteem issues, among others. After running a support group at Pathways that helped group members heal while de-stigmatizing many of these issues, she made it a personal goal to bring a similar support group to MSU’s campus.

“In my late teens, I tried to college for the first time, but due to mental illness and trauma, I dropped out. It took 20 years for me to be able to return to school,” Crowe said. “I am hoping that by facilitating this support group, teaching people skills, and providing resources as well as mental health education, we can help prevent the loss of students to mental health issues.”

Crowe later collaborated with Asiah Handley (Class of 2020), a mental health counselor with Counseling and Health Services, to make the support groups at MSU a reality.

“We want students to be in an environment where they can be their authentic selves. Whether this is an incoming freshman or a senior about to graduate, we want to better assist them with their well-being,” Handley said. “Students will have the opportunity to discuss any mental and emotional concerns that will assist them with working towards self-growth.”

“I would love to see this group continue every single year in perpetuity,” Crowe said. “We may start off small and slow, but as the benefits of the group become apparent and word of mouth spreads, I believe there will be a tremendously positive response and together, we will decrease the stigma around mental health allowing more students to feel confident reaching out for help.”

To learn more about MSU Counseling & Health Services, contact counselingandhealthservices@moreheadstate.edu or 606-783-2055.