Clubs and Organization Active Minds at Westmont

Officers:

President: Serena Lee, serlee@westmont.edu
Vice President: ,
Secretary: Karly Kuntz, kkuntz@westmont.edu

Current Schedule:

We will have two club meetings per month at various times and locations for members (tentatively Thursdays at 7:30-8:30 PM), and on average one event open to the Westmont community.

Club Information:

Mission Statement: ANCHOR Mental Health [Awareness] Ministries [Accept] reality [Nurture] relationship [Comfort] each other [Heal] brokenness [Overcome] struggles [Renew] souls ANCHOR is a ministry dedicated to bringing awareness to the problem of mental illnesses and psychological struggles- especially within the Church. ANCHOR wants to begin an open and transparent dialogue between students and staff/faculty of Westmont College to discuss ways our community can respond better to those struggling mentally, what it means (physically, emotionally, and spiritually) to suffer mentally, and make strong efforts to build a community safe for everyone.

Vision Statement: ANCHOR hopes to create space for students to interact with creative and different ways to discuss mental health. The presence of ANCHOR will help shape the culture of rest and work. We have lived in a society that encourages busyness and success. Instead of encouraging rest for this kind of lifestyle and mentality, this group can help shape our mindset from surviving to thriving. Conversations and dialogue about how the College can help students with stress, anxiety, work load, and overcommitment without necessarily affecting the rigor of the classroom, will hopefully rise among faculty about the structures of their classrooms. Conversation about what it means to be a Christian and look at the theological connections between mental health and faith may rise as well. Currently, we are in the process of connecting with the national mental health organization (Active Minds) that specifically equips students to build awareness and decrease stigma. ANCHOR will ideally become a group that first takes steps to raise mental health awareness and also bring opportunities for psycho-education through our partnership with the counseling center and faculty. help struggling students, then really focus (on the long term) on what it means to live in wellness, for everyone, not just students that struggle with mental illnesses. ANCHOR wants to become the catalyst for a culture change that emphasizes a balanced lifestyle between health and the stresses of college. We will work closely with the counseling center and Active Minds, partnering in their events promoting mental health awareness, psycho-education, and faculty/staff testimonies.