BRCC event empowers students to prioritize mental health

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Baton Rouge Community College hosted an event focusing on mental health, offering resources to students and residents.

“I really think that it helps a lot because you don’t know what someone’s going through. Some people won’t say what they’re going through, but because they’re hiding, you can’t tell,” GEO Next Generation High School student Gabrielle Mason said.

The event featured panel discussions, workshops, and activities to help young people open up. District 7 Councilmember Twahna P. Harris said it’s all about giving students a safe space.

“Whatever issue is going on in their lives, whatever matters going on in their life, we are providing that for them today and letting them know that we have your back and you’re not alone,” Harris said.

Conversations like these matter especially when dealing with pressure both inside and outside of the classroom. Harris said young people face peer pressure and challenges as they try to juggle life. The first step toward healing is creating dialogue and opening the stigma around mental health.

“You have leaders in the room, you have experts in the room. Tell us what can we do to help. And that’s the first step, breaking down the barriers, breaking down the walls and having those heart-to-heart conversations,” Harris said.

The event aimed to leave people feeling empowered and believing in themselves. “Don’t let anyone limit what you can do with your life, don’t let anyone tell you what you can and cannot do with your life and just believe in yourself,” Mason said.

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