The Santa Rosa Junior College Students For Recovery club spreads positive awareness about silent internal battles, mental health struggles and the misuse of drugs in an event called Making The Connection Between Mental Health and Substance Misuse from 5:30-7 p.m. May 1 at the Student Activities Center in Bertolini Hall.
The event features an expert speaker panel and a resource fair with narcan and drug testing strips, along with refreshments and snacks.
A representative from Student Health Services’ psychological services department, Dan Lionett, president of Students For Recovery, and a speaker from a non-profit will be part of the speaking panel, helping to educate the community and lessen the stigma related to how people are viewed with mental health issues and drug misuse.
“We’re beginning to look at things a little differently when it comes to mental health and substance misuse,” Lionett said. “I want the conversation to be a little more open so people understand that these are good people that are fighting tough fights inside that we may not know about.”
An outreach specialist for student peers will be speaking on how to approach the student population at SRJC with providing Narcan, which reverses opioid overdoses, and fentanyl testing strips for those who may experiment with drugs.
