Mental health and mental illness have become major topics of discussion on college campuses across the United States. Three out of five college students experience depression and anxiety, but less than 15 percent of these students seek services through college counseling centers. To address these concerns at MCCC, Mustangs Athletics welcomed Andrew Onimus to speak to student-athletes in the Health Sciences Center (HSC) gym at the Central Campus in Blue Bell.

Onimus works with Minding Your Mind, an organization dedicated to providing mental health education to adolescents, teens and young adults. Minding Your Mind seeks to reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues through speaker programs and by raising awareness of resources available to students and young adults.

Onimus began his lecture by admitting that he was nervous and sharing his coping mechanism: he did three frog jumps, gently slapped his face and took a deep breath to collect himself before speaking. He wanted to encourage the student-athletes at MCCC to be open with their struggles because that is how he received help.

“Conversation saved my life,” he said. “I didn’t share my issues because I thought I could just snap out of it. The number one thing I learned in recovery is that we are not alone. There are people who will help you if you reach out and ask for help.”

At the beginning of his senior year of college, Onimus was starting on the football team, served as the captain of the track and field team, had a rewarding relationship and had a job lined up after graduation. After an injury during an early football game, he felt intense pressure to perform at his best. This stress started negatively affecting his life.

Onimus struggled with sleep and concentration. He lost his appetite and drank more, and he isolated himself from his friends and family. At his lowest point, while he was experiencing suicidal thoughts, he found the strength to reach out for help. He was admitted to the ER, where he was diagnosed with major depression, severe anxiety and insomnia.

Since that day, Onimus has been in recovery, taking medication and working through his issues in therapy. He admits that the path has been difficult, but he eventually found the courage to share his story to help others. He talks about mental health and shares his struggles to build connections with students and young adults.

Onimus wants to help students and young adults address their issues, so they know that despite what they are facing, it gets better.

“Mental health is just as important as physical health. It is not selfish to need self-care,” he said. “Peace exists on the other side of pain.”

MCCC’s Student Success Center offers resources for students juggling the demands of work, school and everyday life. The Student Support and Referral Team (SSRT) and Student Support Group hold weekly meetings on both Central Campus in Blue Bell and West Campus in Pottstown where students can share their concerns and find resources to get help. SSRT and student-athlete leaders also host peer-to-peer group meetings every Wednesday at 12:15 p.m. in HSC Room 1350.