This Friday, September 30, the Center for Counseling and Student Development (CCSD) and the UD Department of Intercollegiate Athletics & Recreation Services are co-hosting the inaugural Blue Hens Walk for Mental Health Awareness.

"This is an important event to begin making mental health an open conversation at UD," said Assistant Vice President of Student Life and Wellness Rae Chresfield. "Students and the community can learn about resources and skills, while gathering support."

At 3 p.m., participating students and staff will begin walking from the Whitney Athletic Center’s “Go Hens” sign down College Avenue, merging with a group gathered at Warner Hall and continuing in a half loop around the UD Fountain on The Green and back. The total distance is 1.5 miles. Following the walk, a series of speakers outside Warner will share insight into mental health resources and personal stories; light refreshments and snacks will be served.

“Our hope is to continue to raise awareness of mental health, encouraging folks to start the conversation and ultimately break the stigma that surrounds talking about and seeking support for our mental health,” said UD sport psychologist Christine Jehu.

Jehu’s sport psychology team provides individual mental health, general counseling and sport performances services to UD student athletes. While Jehu believes everyone can benefit from counseling, she said student athletes are particularly susceptible to mental health myths.

“There is sometimes an expectation that athletes are tough, shouldn’t have difficulties and can muscle through challenging situations, but that doesn’t mean that counseling and mental health services aren’t needed,” Jehu said. “Athletes are humans first. They experience stressors, struggles and challenges just like all other college students. Ensuring that we are meeting mental health and wellness needs will contribute to optimal sport performance.”

Helping to coordinate this event is HenMinded, a group committed to breaking the stigma of mental health within college athletics. Group members are organizing poster making sessions before the event and making green awareness ribbons for participants to wear during the walk.

CCSD Director Cynthia Diefenbeck will lead opening remarks on Friday, followed by two student athletes and Jehu.

“Despite progress to dispel historic stigma toward mental illness, it’s important that we continue to raise awareness and to normalize asking for and seeking help for mental health concerns,” said Diefenbeck.

Diefenbeck said she hopes the walk will encourage students to seek CCSD services when needed and benefit from the wide range of services available to them.

“Every student’s concerns and context are unique,” she said. “Many students think one-on-one counseling is the only option for treatment, but at CCSD we strongly advocate for students to consider group interventions. During a triage appointment, students meet with a counselor to explore their concerns and determine and individualized plan for care, which may include group therapy, skills-based education groups, individual counseling, psychiatric services or referrals to community providers.”

Chresfield emphasized that this is a priority not just to CCSD, but to all wellbeing units.

“CCSD is one of many sources that support students with mental health concerns,” said Chresfield. “We are in the process of building a Wellness Neighborhood to connect all the central offices in our wellbeing units. The goal is to educate, support and provide connection for students—and those that support students—to make accessing help more visible and attainable.”

All are welcome to join the Blue Hens Walk for Mental Health Awareness. Please meet at the Whitney by 3 p.m. or join the group stationed at Warner Hall by 3:30 p.m. Continue the conversation around mental health by showing up and showing out for the home football game on Saturday, October 1 as part of College Football Mental Health Week in partnership with Hiliniski’s Hope Foundation.

CCSD is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Wellbeing Center in Warner Hall at 280 The Green. Students seeking services for the first time are seen for a triage appointment on a walk-in, first-come, first-served basis. Call 302-831-2141 for more information or speak with a counselor 24/7 using the UD Helpline service at 302-831-1001.