“The idea is that we are all works in progress,” said Jamie Greenwolf, coordinator of Student Wellness for the Office of Health Promotion and Wellness. 

In fall 2018, John Tucci ’19 and several other students created the Works in Progress Campaign with the goal of helping students discuss and share stories regarding mental health. They wanted to raise awareness and reduce the stigma associated with mental illnesses. After a few students on campus shared their stories, many more began to reach out and open up. 

“The goal was to get other people who people might look up to, to talk about their mental health stories, what they are struggling with and how they [might] overcome that struggle.”  Greenwolf explained that there are various resources that John Carroll offers to guide students to the help they need. Whether that be through counseling, faith services, running or even yoga, Greenwolf seems confident that people can find an outlet that will improve their mental health. The campaign is housed in the Office of Health Promotion and Wellness because it allows them to broadcast all of the on-campus resources that best fit the students’ needs.

“The goal is to figure out which resource best fits their needs and realize that even though it seems like what they’re working through is small, it’s still big enough to be dealt with,” Greenwolf said.

The campaign stresses that no matter how small an issue may seem, it is best to seek help. Senior Anneke Carlo, Work in Progress participant and Peer Health Advocate, explained,  “I would suggest, especially at John Carroll, to take that walk across the street to go to the counseling center.”

Carlo says she does not want students to be afraid to talk to someone about their struggles.

The Work in Progress Campaign posts on Instagram (@jcu_well) for every “Wellness Wednesday,” and displays the participants who are “Works in Progress.”

Freshman Erin Kipp says, “Going on the Instagram page is a great way to see all of the resources in one place because, as a freshman, … everything is overwhelming.”

Amanda Groves, the graduate assistant for Health Promotion and Wellness and  social media liaison, includes links to different resources that students can take advantage of. “They have another layer of resources where they can click on that page and see what’s going on,” Groves said.

Now, the campaign is working on advertising more to students. Greenwolf, along with the students who are on the posters,  place advertisements in the cafeteria so they can hopefully make connections with students and open a dialogue.

“Posters only do so much,” Greenwolf explained. Having a direct line of communication to students who shared their stories provides an opportunity to start a conversation about dealing with mental illness and other struggles.

The facilitators of the campaign also hope that more faculty and staff share their experiences and struggles. Groves said,  “We are continually works in progress even as adults, and older adults, and it never really stops.”

They are accomplishing this goal, according to Greenwolf, by having their Peer Health Advocates nominate faculty and staff who are willing to share their stories. The hope is that seeing adults who struggle and are open to sharing how they deal with their struggles will inspire students to seek the help they need.

Whether it be recognizing what resources are available or creating programs that can better benefit the students, the Works in Progress Campaign is continually improving, according to Greeenwolf.

“We can always get to more people, we can always do more programs, we can always have more posters,” he explained. “If every year we do more than the year before, then I think we are in a good spot.”

Updated on Dec. 1, 2019