84 TH GRAND CHAPTER MEETING: NATIONAL GUIDE RIGHT STUDENT LEADERSHIP FORUM
Disorders. Additionally, participants had a very sensitive discussion around how mental health issues can and have led to suicide. Some Kappa Leaguers shared the personal impact of suicide within their families and very close friends. Takeaways from the session included what to do when a sibling, family mem- ber or friend is not like herself or him- self. Everyone agreed it was important to say something, do something or tell someone! Whom to tell and how to re- port included alerting teachers, parents, or mental health professionals. And, if all else fails, everyone understood to call 911. Brothers Parmenus Bowler, Ben Jackson and Cheyney Sparks held interactive discussions and team-building exercises during the Technology Workshop with the Kappa Leaguers. The Forum culminated with a field trip to the African American Museum in downtown Philadelphia and the Na- tional Guide Right Student of the Year Competition. Additionally, a National Guide Right Town Hall was also held, which featured panels on the State of Black Males in America moderated by Brother L’Mani S. Viney and a Mental Health panel moderated by Undergraduate Grand Board Member Brother Iván Garcia. Brother Darian D. Hall dealt with a number of topics during the Forum and Town Hall including his work on HealHaus. HealHaus created spaces for men of color to work on their mental health. He also discussed the challenges of leav- ing corporate America and now stepping out to pursue something that is not the norm for African Americans with the development of HealHaus. Mental Health continues to edge and make its way to the front of the so- ciocultural, socioeconomic and socio- academic line of community issues as ***
evidence by rates of suicide, depression and other behavioral/mental health is- sues currently impacting communities, university and college campuses across our nation. During his presentation, Brother Dr. Odom dealt with the stigma and percep- tion of Black men having a difficult time expressing their emotions, depression and what parents, teachers and loved ones should be looking for.
100 | FALL 2019 ♦ THE JOURNAL
Publishing achievement for 105 years
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