Bemidji State University’s Student Center for Health and Counseling is hosting a panel discussion to educate students and members of the Bemidji community about mental health and awareness of mental health issues, and to reduce the social stigma that surrounds people who seek help for mental health-related issues.

The panel discussion, which will feature five BSU students talking about their own experiences with mental health-related issues and the challenges they have faced in seeking help, will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 17, in Hagg-Sauer 100. The panel is open free to anyone in the community who wishes to learn more about mental health-related issues.

The panel will include Jenal Brant, a junior from Swatara, Minn., majoring in psychology and social work. She will speak about her own battles with mental health.

“I have overcome many challenges in my life; sexual, emotional and physical abuse, abduction, jail, discrimination, addictions,” she said. “I have survived numerous serious suicide attempts where I had to be revived by CPR or put on a ventilator. I am hoping to give others hope and realize that they can achieve anything they put their mind to no matter the obstacle in front of them.”

The panel is sponsored by Bemidji State University and the BSU Student Center for Health and Counseling.

Contact
• Jay Passa, BSU health education coordinator; (218) 755-2080
• Larry Hanus, associate professor of counseling services, panel moderator; (218) 755-2024