Focusing on Mental Health: an Interview with Elizabeth Jira

Cassandra Stec | cmstec@butler.edu 

The Carillon sat down with the director of Butler Student Government Association’s (SGA) Mental Health and Wellbeing Board, Elizabeth Jira this past week. Jira is a senior marketing major and has worked in a variety of roles on campus including SGA’s Judicial Board and Butler’s Residence Life as a Resident Assistant (RA).

Cassandra Stec: What does mental health mean to you?

Elizabeth Jira: I think mental health is extremely important, it is very underserved in terms of a person’s health. When you go to the doctor they’re always checking in on physical needs but never really your mental needs. It’s something that needs to be destigmatized. A lot of people don’t have the opportunity to consider their mental health until they go to college, get away from their home town or their parents or whatever it may be. I think it’s just as important as your physical health and maintaining it is just as important.

CS: How did you get your position as the Head of Mental Health and Wellbeing?

EJ: I was appointed after the previous director had to step down. I had originally interviewed for the position last spring and was not appointed; but they were able to use those interviews to determine who would fill this position.

CS: What does your position entail?

EJ: As the director, I oversee a board of 14 members. In that we have a few different liaisons and different tasks. The programming board has their own team which is made up of about six of my board members; they come up with collaborations. They came up with the one we did with UPC [University Program Council], Paws and Think and we have a lot coming up with the NAMI [National Alliance on Mental Illness] week that they’re planning. We also have a BUPD [Butler University Police Department] liaison who works with them to make sure they’re mental health first aid trained. They’re also figuring out how we can bridge that gap between the students and BUPD because they usually are the first responders for mental health situations on campus. I have a CCS [Counseling and Consultation Services] liaison who works with BUBeWell as well as CCS to determine that gap between the student body. We go to monthly meetings for the Mental Health Collective on campus which is the director of CCS, the director of BUBeWell and a few of the different deans on campus. We all just talk about the collective campus mental health. It’s great because they really value the student voice when we are there. There is also a director of partnership; we’re working on making valuable relationships on campus. Most recently we’ve met with the Panhellenic Association, IFC [Interfraternity Council] and Bon Appetit. I also have a director of speakers to bring in people to talk about mental health, but that’s easier said than done; we’ve been struggling to find qualified people to come in and talk about it. However, we’ve been able to find someone who is very knowledgeable about essential oils, so we’re  excited to have an essential oil event where students can learn about relaxation.

CS: Why did you want to be the Head of Mental Health and Wellbeing?

EJ: I wanted to be the head of Mental Health and Wellbeing because I am very passionate about mental health. I was a RA on campus for two years – my sophomore and junior years – and I really saw how underserved it was on campus as well as how many students had to be in a crisis in order to get the help they needed. That just didn’t sit well with me and so when this opportunity arose it was definitely something I jumped on. I’ve seen firsthand that what we’re doing isn’t working and I wanted to be a person to change that. It’s just so sad when people are in dire stress, it shouldn’t have to get to that point in order for them to get the help that they deserve.

CS: What are some of Butler’s big issues in regard to mental health?

EJ: I think that accessibility and, in a way, visibility. I think that Butler talks a lot of talk when it comes to mental health but then they don’t do a lot of actionable things that back up their claims of support for mental health. There’s a disconnect, I feel, between what the administration is saying about mental health and then perhaps individual professors. Some individual professors might not accept a mental health day as a valid excuse from class, but then the university is telling you if you need a mental health day you should take one. I also think that a lot of what they’re trying to do to better mental health is very demonstrative. It’s not really doing anything. For example, the BUBeWell Weekend. While the intention was good, it didn’t land. I think that it was more so that they had to put something together because the community needed it so greatly and they didn’t have anything to give for it.

CS: What are some ways that the Mental Health and Wellbeing Board are trying to remedy this?

EJ: We have been doing a lot of talking is the best way to describe it. This is the first year this board is here, so it’s kind of hard because it’s a lot of laying the ground work. We all obviously want the change to happen but it’s something that can’t happen overnight. We really want to be the voice for students on campus, so we’ve been sending out surveys; most recently we sent out a pretty big one to the student body and we’ve been getting a lot of feedback on that. We want to take the student voice and talk to CCS, talk to the administration, talk to BUPD and be like these are the issues that we see and this is what needs to be done about it. So far most people have been very receptive. CCS in particular is really excited to get the feedback of the survey. It’s just kind of a slow process. Right now we’re doing what we can to make sure students have outlets and safe spaces and they know their resources. We’re hoping to implement a mental health seminar in orientation week. It’ll be one of the first things that people go to as first years to destigmatize mental health. I think that’s one of the most actionable items we have currently. But other things we’re hoping to do is getting mental health days in the syllabus, but it’s just going to take a bit more time than we have this semester.

CS: Do you think that the Mental Health and Wellbeing Board is taking strides in helping to change the conversation regarding mental health on campus?

EJ: I think we are. A lot of the people who come to our events are first years or not really sure about it and they’ve been really open to conversations. I think that’s really helping. I think this board is the first time on Butler’s campus that people kind of have an outlet to discuss mental health issues or concerns they see on campus.

CS: Where can mental health resources for students be accessed?

EJ: We actually have these Mental Health and Wellbeing magnets that are going to be distributed to every room in on-campus housing; they can stick them on their fridge or if they live in Irvington or Fairview they can stick it on their door. When they scan this QR code it goes to a working link that has updated mental health resources. They can find them online – through the QR code – or on the Butler SGA’s website or the [SGA] Instagram. We also expanded our partnership with Uber. Students who need off-campus counseling sessions are able to get their Uber covered once a week so they can get to their appointments. We’re also expanding our Uber to go to St. Vincent’s for 24 hours a day. The Stress Center is unfortunately only open until 5 PM, and as we know mental health is not a 9 to 5 thing. So, we’re expanding it to the emergency room as well just in case anyone needs those mental health services after they close.

More information regarding the Mental Health and Wellbeing Board as well as their events can be found on the Butler SGA website (butlersga.org) or on their Instagram (@butlersga).