A group of University students gathered last October to start the Patronus Project, which aims to educate students and raise awareness about issues surrounding mental illness.
“We are mostly members of Charlottesville Book Club who love Harry Potter, so that’s why we named it the Patronus Project,” said fourth-year Engineering student Caitlin Reilly, who is currently leading the Project.
Mental illness is more commonplace problem than many realize — nearly one in four people are diagnosed with some form of mental illness in their lifetime. Reilly says that many students have experienced personal trauma or mental illness but usually are not willing to take the initiative to share this experience with others.
“I think there is a lot of space at U.Va. to make it change and get people started talking about
mental illness and changing the stigma,” Reilly said.
In addition to discussing mental illness, members of the Patronus Project have planned diverse events for students to reduce daily stress and protect general mental health. Their first events will be held Feb. 16-20.
“We will also have a guest speaker to discuss emergency care, such as how to identify the warning symptoms of mental illness from your family and friends and how to approach such a subject with them,” Reilly said. “Sometimes people are too afraid to talk about it because they think they may offend someone. However, starting a conversation is always a great way to get people help in need.”
During the week of Feb. 16, Reilly recommends students participate in the group’s events, which include art therapy and an exposition with University health-related organizations, in order to learn about how to deal with a situation of mental illness.
“I am hoping to get people to talk about their personal experience and understand that it is everywhere,” Reilly added.
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