Residents of Story County gathered at the Story County Mental Health Expo to access valuable information about mental health resources while receiving an inspiring message from keynote speaker Kai Roberts.
The event featured 35 organizations, each with representatives on hand to provide information about their services. Kai Roberts, the keynote speaker, delivered a talk titled “Escape: Overcoming Anxiety and Intrusive Thoughts,” in which he shared his personal battle with anxiety and intrusive thoughts during his college years. Roberts recounted how his college experience did not match his expectations and how this disconnect affected his mental health struggles. He described the symptoms he experienced and the coping strategies he employed.
Roberts candidly shared that he initially repressed his emotions and did not address them, feeling isolated in his emotional turmoil. He emphasized the importance of overcoming the mental health stigma and highlighted the value of working with a therapist in his recovery journey.
The central message conveyed to attendees was “You Are Not Alone.” Roberts emphasized that it’s common to face challenges during college and that seeking support is essential. He recounted his sophomore year when he confronted similar difficulties but struggled to find solutions while attempting to tackle everything on his own.
Roberts also cited a startling statistic: 39% of college students experience significant mental illness during their time on campus, a group to which he belonged during his college years.
The expo attracted a diverse array of organizations, including Community Support Advocates (CSA), an organization providing support for individuals with various disabilities, including anxiety, depression, brain injuries, and substance abuse. Representatives from CSA were present at the event, highlighting the value of the expo in reaching students and the local community.
Chris Bertrand, a representative from Central Iowa Psychological Services, underscored the importance of mental health awareness and the need to spread the word. He emphasized the significance of community engagement in raising awareness about mental health issues.
Andrea Hohmann, a therapist at CIPS, specifically addressed the “loneliness epidemic” and the importance of face-to-face communication in fostering mental health awareness. She emphasized the need to connect with people in person and not rely solely on digital communication platforms.
The Mental Health Expo provided students with an opportunity to interact directly with representatives and discover the wealth of available mental health resources in the surrounding areas.
Students like Lauren Case, a sophomore studying event management, attended the event for academic purposes but also found it valuable to explore and learn more about mental health. Isabelle Gonzalez, a freshman majoring in design, expressed her interest in mental health issues and joined the event to further her understanding.
The expo concluded with a panel discussion where attendees could submit questions to the speakers. The panel featured representatives from the Ames Police Department, Alternative Response for Community Health (ARCH), and Kai Roberts.
