Brock University community members are invited to present and support one another at A Night To Be Heard: Mental Health Open Mic, hosted by the Brock PSYC Society on Friday, Feb. 7 from 5 to 8 p.m. in Isaac’s Bar and Grill.

The event will welcome registered and spontaneous speakers and performers sharing their experiences with mental health challenges through speech, music and comedy. Trained professionals from the Student Health and Wellness Hub and the Brock Student Sexual Violence Support Centre will also be on-site to ensure that attendees are well supported.

A Night To Be Heard has been developed by the executive of the Brock PSYC Society, a student-run, BUSU-ratified club made up of Psychology students to support social activities for students interested in the field.

“We decided to plan this event to raise awareness around mental health and to create a safe space for people to share their mental health stories in different ways,” says Taylor McRae, a third-year Psychology student and the society’s treasurer.

“We would really like to hear people speaking about their own unique experiences to audiences who may understand what they are going through — to realize that they are not alone and be able to take pride in their strength,” says Natasha Campbell, a third-year Psychology major minoring in Child and Youth Studies and president of the PSYC Society.

Third-year student and Director of External Affairs for the Brock PSYC Society Anna-Lise Siering says the group planned the event “to create an environment for Brock students to openly talk about the stressors and difficulties of student life and to provide them with information about where they can get help or become involved in the Niagara community.”

As far as the members of the executive are aware, this will be the first time that the Brock PSYC Society hosts an open-mic night dedicated to mental health issues.

For Briar MacDonald, a double-major in Psychology and Child and Youth Studies who serves as the society’s vice president, it was important to maintain a student focus during planning.

“After reviewing previous events, we saw a need for something that would engage more students while raising awareness about an issue that is commonly discussed in our department,” MacDonald explains.

Erica Belchior, a third-year Psychology major and the Brock PSYC Society’s Social Media Coordinator, believes that the student focus will help participants “feel comfortable enough to share their stories, artwork and music, and to be able to connect with each other on a more personal level, hopefully making a few friends or acquaintances in the process.”

Anyone interested in participating in next Friday’s open mic is invited to reserve a spot via email, although spontaneous performers are also welcome. A $2 entry fee will apply to anyone who is not a registered performer.

Campbell hopes that people will leave the event feeling knowledgeable and empowered.

“Living with a mental health condition is not easy at all, and people can often feel down when they think of all their limitations,” says Campbell. “But, despite all these obstacles, many of us are accomplishing really great things. I think that’s amazing.”