Amala Rajesh Nambiar

The availability of student organizations across the different campuses of Penn State University can vary greatly. The University park campus, for example has over 1,000 student organizations, one of which is the Lift the Mask club. Lift the Mask, is a club at the University Park campus of Penn State that focuses on improving the mental wellness of students and promoting mental health awareness by focusing on reducing the stigma around mental illnesses.

This club was founded by Nicholas Corona, a student of Penn State, in August 2019 at the height of the COVID pandemic. The pandemic has been a difficult time for most people in the country, resulting in a prominent rise in the number of people suffering from mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. It has been particularly difficult for students, specifically those who had already been dealing with mental health conditions pre-COVID.

The club is sponsored by Quell Foundation, a foundation that provides financial assistance to students who are suffering from mental illnesses, among other things. The name of the club comes from a documentary film of the same name that was released by Quell Foundation in order to start a discussion about the impact mental illnesses can have on those who suffer from it as well as their loved ones.

The club’s activities include unofficial hangouts at the on-campus ice cream shop, Berkey creamery, and going on hikes up Mount Nittany, while the meetings center around members discussing mental health issues and personal stories related to their mental health.

Emmaline Fogal, a psychology major in her junior year, and the President of the Lift the Mask Club says, “during meetings, we talk about things that are ‘unacceptable’ to society talk about normally. This includes things such as depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicide, and many other mental health issues. It can be extremely tough to talk about these things, which is why we must. If we can’t get comfortable talking about it then it’ll never be accepted, and the stigma will always be there.”

About her presidency, Fogal says, “this is my first year being president. I joined right before the pandemic, so it was scary having the responsibility to manage a club that I had never really seen in action. With the help of the amazing executive board though, it has been an easy adjustment.” The club is just starting to run in-person this year, which has not been an easy transition for the members but they have been making the best of their time so far. The club already has plans to organize regular events that promote mental wellness, such as goat yoga for the students at a local farm.

The club stands at about 50 members at present. “We receive about 3-5 emails a week from students trying to get involved though so it’s definitely growing!” says Fogal.

For more information, visit Lift the Mask Club – Penn State University Park (psu.edu).

 

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please reach out for help.

• Call 911: If there is an immediate risk of endangering oneself or others, contact 911. Inform the operator that you are calling about a mental health crisis.
• Crisis Text Line: Get 24/7 help from the Crisis Text Line . Text PA to 741741 to start the conversation.
• Suicide Prevention Lifeline: If you or someone you care about is experiencing thoughts of suicide, please call the Lifeline at 800-273-8255. [Español: 888-628-9454]