Breaking the Silence advocacy group addresses mental health issues

Halfway through a presentation in front of about 100 students at Farwell High School, Kathryn Loesel shared her personal story of dealing with depression and anxiety.

In her fist year as a member of Breaking the Silence, a registered student organization that raises awareness for mental health issues, the Gladwin freshman told her tale of anxiety and depression, in the shadow of academic success.

It was the group's first major outreach event last fall, where Loesel spoke to the young students about the importance of seeking help for mental challenges.

"I was the 'honor student' who was perfect, but I was mentally struggling,” she said. “When I was accepted to Central Michigan University, my therapist suggested joining a student organization with a platform of depression and suicide prevention. That's the next step of my healing, to talk about my mental illness and to help spread awareness.”

Allowing Breaking the Silence to be a therapeutic outlet, Loesel plans to continue presenting her personal experience and remain a member of Breaking the Silence while attending CMU for the next three years.

“People are scared to talk about it because then society will deem them weak. By not talking about it, feelings are buried and repressed,” Loesel said. “This vicious cycle needs to stop. The only reason I got the help I needed was because someone finally talked to me about it. People who are struggling need to see the silent solidarity and the public support. The first step is talking about the issues and to 'break the silence.’”

President of the group, Grayling senior Camren Wilson said the group aims to look past statistics, and uncover the psychological causes of mental health issues.

“Society is so driven to teach us facts, stats, laws, formulas, that we miss critical opportunities to teach youth about themselves,” Wilson said. “If all they see is our behavior and our environment, then they miss some critical details."

Breaking the Silence began in 2012, running as a teen mental and social health advocacy organization. The organization primarily focuses on educating college students about mental and social health issues. They meet at 8 p.m., Thursdays in Moore 206.

The group often speaks in middle and high schools to teens about any day-to-day problems they may face.

“Our overall end goal is to try and get our message across to more middle schools and high schools,” Wilson said. “We want to talk to students about mental health issues and try to curve down the problem at younger ages.”

Breaking the Silence also worked during International Suicide Prevention Month last September. This included a day spent filling out a “love train” presentation with words of encouragement.

Vice President and Big Rapids junior Katie Rae Louise, said the organization plans to travel to more schools and spread their message and to raise students’ self-esteem prior to entering college.

“This RSO isn't trying to target CMU's students as much as the students in high school, because honestly that is where the issues mainly stem from,” she said. “The students need to be educated on these issues because they aren't talked about enough. No one ever has to feel as if they aren't good enough for this world.”