Get trained

With autumn knocking at our door, you may have already noticed the sun setting earlier and the wind carrying a chill. That means that seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder, will soon rear its ugly head. It is important to begin thinking about how you will want to combat it for both yourself and others. 

Luckily, NDSU has many great resources that students can utilize. This includes both the counseling center and the Student Health Services. However, you can help as a student too! One of the most effective ways to do this is by undergoing training for the Green Bandana Project through the Residence Hall Association. 

Have you ever been walking around campus and noticed the large number of green bandanas tied to peoples’ backpacks? This iconic symbol is more than a fashion statement; it is a sign of hope. There are over 1,500 students, staff, and faculty at NDSU that have taken the pledge, and there is room for growth.

  The Green Bandana Project is meant to create a quiet, but visual, support system around campus to show solidarity for those that are dealing with mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression. Being able to address the stigma of mental health is oftentimes difficult. But the idea behind the project is to show that there are people who are safe to approach if you need help. 

These individuals wearing the bandanas have earned them by attending an initial training in which they learn where resources are. They may have also attended the second training on learning about hard conversations and how to have them. Either way, individuals with green bandanas have pledged to listen, help, accept, and see you as a person in need of support and not just your challenges.

If you are interested in becoming trained, the next session is taking place on November 2nd at 11 a.m. in the Sahnish Room of the Memorial Union. You can sign up online by going to the “Green Bandana Project” page of the NDSU website. 

I think that getting trained through Green Bandana is one of the best things you can do on campus, as it helps others as well as yourself. Mental health should be taken seriously, and silently seeing the amount of people who care and support others on campus is incredibly moving. You are way too important to feel alone today. Please reach out to someone if you need help, but also try your best to be that someone for another person as well.