It's Okay to Fall: Bodhi at the UIUC Mental Health Art Exhibition
On Tuesday, the University of Illinois campus came together for "It's Okay to Fall," a campuswide mental health awareness art exhibition hosted by the Illini Union Board and Illini Creative Impact. Bodhi was there with 3D-printed leaves, mental health resources and some really good conversations.
WCIA covered the event, and you can read their story here.
What "It's Okay to Fall" looked like
Students and staff turned blank canvases into a shared piece of art that anyone could add to. There was mandala coloring, bracelet making and a chance to 3D-print coping skills, and local counseling clinics, including Bodhi, were there to talk about mental health support.
The theme fits this time of year. Leaves fall every autumn, and nobody thinks the tree failed. Falling apart a little, slowing down or needing help is part of being a person, especially in the middle of a semester.
Our coping skill leaves
We printed a batch of leaves on our 3D printer to go with the theme, each one a reminder of a coping skill to take home. If you missed us, here are a few worth keeping in your pocket:
Step outside for five minutes
Text one person you trust
Name five things you can see right now
Drink a glass of water
Put on one song you love
Take three slow breaths, longer on the exhale
None of these fix everything. They're small things that help get you through a hard hour, and a hard hour is often what a rough day comes down to.
The conversations
We talked with students about what therapy actually looks like, how to get started, and how insurance works, including the UIUC student plan. We also handed out resources with crisis lines and local support.
If you stopped by our table, thank you for being so open with us. If you didn't make it, here's what we'd want you to know:
If you're in crisis: call or text 988, or call the Champaign County crisis line at 217-359-4141, any time, day or night.
For free and low-cost support in Champaign-Urbana: our Champaign-Urbana Mental Health Resources page lists crisis lines, campus services, LGBTQ+ and Spanish-language support, food and housing help and more.
If you're thinking about therapy: What to Expect at Your First Appointment walks you through it.
Thank you
A big thank you to the Illini Union Board and Illini Creative Impact for organizing "It's Okay to Fall" and for inviting community clinics to be part of it. Events like this tell students that struggling is normal and that help is close by. We were glad to be there, and we'd love to come back.
Bodhi is a group practice in Champaign offering affirming therapy for college students, adults, kids, teens, couples and families, in person and by telehealth across Illinois. Text or call 217-731-4638 to set up a free consultation.
Cover photo by Matt on Unsplash.
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