College Observing Mental Health Awareness Month with Kickoff Event at the RPH May 2
Article by: Melinda Eddleman
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that one in five U.S. adults lives with a mental illness condition. Half of all lifetime conditions begin by age 14 and 75% by age 24, but early intervention programs can help someone suffering from some form of mental illness.
As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, which is May, Del Mar College (DMC) is hosting an Info Fair and Kickoff Concert on Thursday, May 2, to bring awareness and resources to both the campus and general community. Participants can expect to hear local, state and national perspectives about mental health issues that affect us all as a community.
Mental health at every stage of life, ranging from childhood to adolescence and throughout adulthood, is an important part of our overall health and includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Our mental health affects how we think, feel and act as well as helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others and make healthy choices.
She adds that the community of mental health professionals and agencies are committed to supporting everyone’s overall health and wellness and are looking forward to the event.
The Mental Health Awareness Month event starts at 11 a.m. in Richardson Performance Hall, DMC East Campus on Ayers Street at Baldwin Blvd., and features remarks by Hernandez, Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales and NAMI Greater Corpus Christi program director Angela Horner. Organizers also have scheduled an hour-long info fair beginning at 11:30 a.m. in the lobby and “Stealing Oceans,” the hip-hop musical group featuring rapper and lyricist Brian Thompson, at 12:30 p.m. in the auditorium.
This event is FREE and open to the public. For more information, contact the DMC Student Leadership and Campus Life Office at 698-1279 or email bacage@delmar.edu.
Thompson’s love for words and melodies steered him away from the grip of a five-year struggle with drugs and alcohol. He now shares his positivity as frontman and leader of “Stealing Oceans,” whose vitality is not only for entertainment but also to encourage audiences to be appreciative each day with the group fusing optimism into their unique hip-hop sound and lyrics as inspiration.
The group’s energetic live show - which includes stagedives, crowd surfing and backflips - has not gone unnoticed with the band being nominated for “Best Live Act” three years-in-a-row at the Nashville Industry Music Awards.
“Stealing Oceans” takes time from their busy touring schedule to appear at special events to raise awareness about suicide prevention and mental health. The group uses their platform to make a difference in people’s lives and thrives to inspire with their own motto; “Stay Thoughtful, Be Grateful, and Always Love.”
Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.