The Daily Bulletin Archive

Please join us for a screening and panel discussion of It’s “Just” Anxiety, a documentary film that aims to destigmatize a mental health issue affecting more than 40 million Americans, on Wednesday, March 4, at 5:00 p.m. in the LoRusso Alumni and Visitor Center’s Zemsky Presentation Room.

The stigma surrounding mental health has been a growing concern not just on our campus but in our community in general. Every year we see the number of people who seek treatment for mental health grow, and our student population has not been untouched by this statistic.

Conversations on our campus among students, staff, and faculty members have shown that the stigma surrounding mental health has stunted our ability as individuals to have a conversation about how mental health affects the world around us. We must break this stigma by speaking freely about what mental health is and the many ways it can manifest in our everyday lives: personally, socially, and academically.

It’s “Just” Anxiety shows specifically what the fastest-growing mental health concern—anxiety—is like for over a dozen people from diverse backgrounds. Their symptoms are wide-ranging, from excessive worry, uneasiness, and fear to more extreme symptoms such as compulsive behavior, post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias, and panic attacks. The film explores the under-publicized fact that anxiety is the most treatable form of mental illness and demonstrates how sufferers can get on the path to recovery via various therapies.

After the viewing, we will have a panel discussion featuring a current Buffalo State student and a member of the Buffalo community who will share their stories surrounding anxiety. Panelists will be presented with a number of questions designed to foster a safe environment in which all attendees can engage openly. Audience members will be afforded the opportunity to interact with panel members, providing space for difficult but necessary conversations to take place.

Through this meaningful sharing of stories and events, we hope attendees will continue the conversation surrounding mental health with their friends, residence halls, offices, classrooms, and departments and share what they have learned about this highly treatable condition. Additionally, we hope to raise awareness of the resources and support networks available on campus and in our communities.

Watch the trailer.