Emerson students indulged in games, prizes, and education on mental health resources at the college’s ninth annual Fresh Check Day mental health fair in The Loft. 

Fresh Check Day is a program sponsored by the Jordan Porco Foundation, which describes the national event as a way to create “an approachable and hopeful atmosphere where students are encouraged to engage in dialogue about mental health.” The program works with multiple colleges and universities in the U.S. to increase awareness of mental health resources and decrease the stigma surrounding mental health that may deter individuals from seeking help.

The Jordan Porco Foundation is an organization committed to preventing suicide in high school and college populations. The organization’s founders, Ernie and Marisa Porco, lost their son, Jordan, to suicide during his freshman year of college in 2011. Since then, the foundation has sought to create open conversations about suicide and mental health to prevent youth suicides. 

At the fair, students browsed 10 booths by campus partners that framed topics like body positivity, suicide awareness, drug and alcohol safety, and more, in engaging activities. 

“There’s enough booths that you kind of have to learn something, and they’re all different,” freshman creative writing major Bailey Flaherty said. “You’re definitely taking in knowledge from a bunch of sources.” 

Students were handed cards upon entering the fair that they could get stamped as they visited each booth. The more stamps the students gathered, the more chances they had to enter into raffles. Some prizes included an Owala water bottle, a sunset lamp, or a journal. Additionally, students could take home their own “Fresh Chex” and popcorn mix, as well as other free treats from the booths. 

“Hopefully it’s just a small part of their day that can bring some joy and supportive vibes,” said Laura Owen, associate director of wellness and health promotion at Emerson and one of the fair’s organizers.

According to Owen, Emerson strategically planned the fair to occur about halfway through October. 

“We’re in a little bit of a tough time with the election coming up and it’s also somewhat close to midterms,” said Owen. “It’s a time we can check in with ourselves—kind of remind students and ourselves, ‘what do I need right now,’ ‘what are my supports I have available at Emerson,’ and ‘how do we continue to help each other?’”

Owen said she hoped the fair would remind new Emerson students to check in on their mental health. 

“We all deal with stress. We all deal with ups and downs. We all deal with adjustments to coming to a new environment, especially if it’s your first time in school,” said Owen. “When you enter our Emerson community, we are all in it together.”

Many students said their anxiety and depression have impacted their lives in and out of school and emphasized the importance of Emerson hosting events surrounding these topics. 

“I feel like everyone experiences that so it should be talked about more,” said Niamh Williams, a freshman student. “I think this is really good because it makes it fun and accessible without making it intimidating or feeling like you have to go somewhere that’s very official and really serious.”

Bella Nordman, a freshman journalism major, said the fair introduced her to new strategies to manage her mental health while reminding her of the campus resources available to students. 

“Events like that are fun and you can get prizes and free stuff and you enter raffles, but you also are learning something,” she said. “It’s teaching something that’s important that people should be aware of.”

With next year being the event’s 10th year running, Owen said Emerson will continue to shape the mental health fair to be accessible, easy, and meaningful. 

“It’s not a one-size-fits-all,” Owen said. “We’re trying to design it so it does meet the needs of our different populations on campus and people will feel that they can come and feel accepted and included and it’s a safe place.”

As students enter midterm season, Owen said she hoped the fair gave students the knowledge they needed to check in on their own mental health and think about the support systems they surround themselves with. 

“You can’t do all the things you want to do if your mental health is not in a good place,” Owen said. “We all are in it to support each other—to get through those challenging times and support each other in the good times.”