The hope for IfYoureReadingThis.org is that it will host enough letters for any student to scroll through, stumble upon a letter written by somebody they know, and not only feel supported in that moment, but also know that they have an understanding friend to talk to in the future.
The fear of stigma or judgment often prevents students from reaching out to friends and family when they are struggling with anxiety or depression. A support network is an integral part of mental health, along with professional counseling, and sometimes medication. However, building this support network can be hard, especially when students feel uneasy about whether or not they’ll be met with support and positivity.
Therefore, IfYoureReadingThis.org seeks to have friends come forward first and share that responsibility of being vulnerable. We shouldn’t have all of the hard work be on the side of the disempowered position. IfYoureReadingThis.org functions to close the gap between students with mental illness and the people that care about them. This is a place where we come forward to show our support first. This is a place where we can use our voices to touch the lives of those around us.
It is our hope that IfYoureReadingThis.org will serve as an open-ended university-wide support network to help students struggling with anxiety and depression. Our goal is to help students with mental illness feel comfortable talking to somebody, by identifying the people who want to listen, and by showing an outpouring of love and understanding.
If you're reading this, you are loved.
HISTORY
2016
IfYoureReadingThis.org was created at the University of Virginia by founder Alexandra Pentel in the fall of 2016. Alexandra noticed that social media campaigns, though well-intended, did not do much to end the stigma surrounding mental illness.
Additionally, students often feel that professional counseling somehow lacks a deeper connection, but fear reaching out to their friends, as they are afraid of feeling like a burden. Fearing judgment, this search for support can be discouraging and perpetuates the culture of suffering in silence from depression and anxiety.
Alexandra sought a solution to these problems, and came up with IfYoureReadingThis.org: A place where the support comes forward first that meets mental illness with action. A place that brings people together beyond a hashtag.
Through outreach efforts across the different communities of the university, IfYoureReadingThis aspires to develop the initiative into a sustainable, university-wide support network.
2017
MARCH 21ST, 2017
IfYoureReadingThis.org is recognized by The 21 Society at The University of Virginia with an accompanying donation. "On the 21st of every month, the 21 Society delivers a letter of recognition and encouragement to a group or project that has positively impacted our community. As a project that started this past fall and came to fruition this semester, IfYoureReadingThis.org has already made a difference at this University."
APRIL 10TH, 2017
The Cavalier Daily, the second best college paper in the nation at the time by Princeton Review, publishes a feature piece on IfYoureReadingThis.org. Student Council President, Sarah Kenny, commented, "I appreciated it that people I respect and work with in the community shared their stories because it really breaks down the image of untouchability. I felt a responsibility to help break down that narrative in the really powerful way that IfYoureReadingThis had been doing through this work.”
2018
APRIL 12TH, 2018
IfYoureReadingThis team members speak at Voices of 2018, a TedTalk style event which highlights new projects, research, and startups by members of the University of Virginia Class of 2018.
OCTOBER 8TH, 2018
Beneficiaries of Theta Chi’s Battle of the Bands philanthropy event. Theta Chi is committed to partnering with local mental health organizations like On Our Own, If You’re Reading This, and NAMI in memory of their late brother and president, Quent Alcorn.
2019
OCTOBER 23RD, 2019
UVAToday, which tells the University's stories to the world through news and feature articles, videos, photography and on social media platform as part of the Office of University Communications, publishes a feature piece on IfYoureReadingThis.org.
2020
APRIL 9TH, 2020
IfYoureReadingThis expands to Georgia Tech through the leadership of Georgia Tech chapter founder, Sarah Tyner. After witnessing her community grieve the loss of many students with seemingly no change in the mental health resources available, Sarah felt driven to create something that would help change the atmosphere on campus. Sarah came across IfYour ReadingThis and immediately knew it would be an effective platform to encourage Georgia Tech to be more vulnerable and open about mental health with each other.
2021
JANUARY 20, 2021
IfYoureReadingThis expands to Clemson University through the leadership of Clemson University chapter founder, Emily Daly. Being from Virginia, Emily had been following IfYoureReadingThis for a few years, leaning on the resource whenever she found herself struggling. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with the tragedies that have occurred at Clemson in the past 3.5 years prompted her to found a chapter with her close friend and now Vice President, Lane Henry. Both Emily and Lane felt compelled to introduce this incredible resource to the Clemson Family. They believe IfYoureReadingThis embodies the sense of home and belonging one is destined to feel on this campus.
MARCH 22, 2021
Julia Stanisci brings IfYoureReadingThis to Villanova University. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the lack of mental health resources on college campuses, Julia felt that the Villanova community needed an easily accessible mental health resource that projects student voices. After struggling with mental health for many years herself and watching friends and family suffer in silence, she knew IfYoureReadingThis would make a positive impact on Villanova’s campus through erasing the stigma, empowering students to connect with each other, and building a better, more open conversation about mental health.
MARCH 24, 2021
The Villanovan, the official student newspaper of Villanova University since 1916, publishes a feature piece on IfYoureReadingThis.org in their Culture section. In it, Villanova’s first letter author, Dayna D. shared, “I really wanted to write a letter because it felt like an amazing opportunity to let others know that they are loved and that it is okay to talk about and be open about struggling with mental health. Breaking the stigma is so important and being able to help someone in that process is really important to me.”
AUGUST 23, 2021
IfYoureReadingThis launches at the University of South Carolina through the leadership of University of South Carolina chapter founder, Heddy McGrey. With campus hitting a reset button after the bulk of the COVID-19 pandemic, Heddy felt that during this time of monumental change, students needed a resource for students to openly come forward together to reshape the community’s approach on mental health. IfYoureReadingThis.org allowed the opportunity to reopen the conversation and institute a new form of dialogue for all students alike. The perspectives shared with her previously from other students on mental health inspired Heddy to create this chapter alongside close friend and co-founder, Ethan Felkel. Both Heddy and Ethan knew the immense impact this resource would have on empowering students, encouraging kindness, and erasing the stigmas around mental health in the Gamecock community.
AUGUST 30, 2021
Meghan Doherty brings IfYoureReadingThis to Boston College. After learning about the organization through her sister, a student at Villanova, Meghan realized how much her own school could benefit from the organization. Through her experiences with mental illness, Meghan knew how difficult it can be to ask for help, but how empowering it can be to know you are not alone. Meghan’s close friend and now Vice President Madison Walsh helps Meghan found a chapter of IfYoureReadingThis at Boston College. They hope IfYoureReadingThis will help normalize conversations about mental health on campus while offering support, resources, and hope to those struggling in their community.
SEPTEMBER 1, 2021
IfYoureReadingThis launches at Wake Forest University through the leadership of Wake Forest University chapter founder Kendall Woodall. As a rising first year during the pandemic, Kendall recognized the community’s need for greater discussions about mental health and the need for more resources for her peers. Upon finding out about the IfYoureReadingThis network, Kendall was confident that it was exactly what Wake Forest needed to promote deeper conversations and help destigmatize mental health. After several months of research and work, Kendall launched the Wake Forest Chapter in the fall of her second year with the goal of promoting compassionate mental health resources as the Wake Forest community moved forward through the pandemic.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2021
Rachael Holp brings IfYoureReadingThis to Arizona State University. After learning about the organization through a mutual friend on social media, Rachael realized how much this organization could impact the greater ASU community. She believed it could fill a large gap that existed in the attention towards mental health and wellbeing at ASU. Through her own experiences with mental health, leading her to halt her college experience at one point, Rachael knew how difficult it could be to speak up when struggling, and how important the power of connection and vulnerability is when sharing our stories. Rachael hopes IfYoureReadingThis will inspire and help students, staff and alumni share their stories, helping to end the stigma around mental health, while offering support, resources and hope to those struggling in their community.
OCTOBER 20, 2021
IfYoureReadingThis expands northward to Colby College, where Caroline Scarola and her close friend Emily Gallagher felt inspired to establish a chapter on their campus in Waterville, Maine. Stumbling upon the launch of Vilanova’s chapter during the midst of the pandemic, the two began communicating about bringing Colby’s already tight-knit community even closer together to share resources and promote conversations about the importance of mental health. By strengthening peer support networks and reminding students they are not alone, we hope to end the stigma surrounding mental health on campus and beyond!
NOVEMBER 10, 2021
IfYoureReadingThis launches at the University of Michigan through the leadership of Grace Coleman. Through her own experience with mental health, Grace recognized the value in honestly sharing one's mental health struggles. Upon learning about IfYoureReadingThis and recognizing the gaps in the mental health resources on campus, Grace felt that the University of Michigan could benefit from an organization that empowers the community to be open about mental health. Grace is confident that the University of Michigan will be a better place with a chapter of IfYoureReadingThis working to reduce the stigma of mental health while creating a community of support.
2022
FEBRUARY 9, 2022
IfYoureReadingThis expands to Washington State University through the leadership of Margeaux Edwards. While struggling with mental health during her first semester of college, Margeaux found respite confiding in others; she noticed that engaging in vulnerable conversation concerning her mental health bolstered an atmosphere where others felt safe to do so as well. Her hope is for IfYoureReadingThis to serve as a platform where members of the Washington State community can come together through the act of storytelling — an ultimate reminder of what it means to be human.
MARCH 2, 2022
IfYoureReadingThis debuts in Texas at Southern Methodist University through the leadership of Meredith Lloyd. After seeing the impact IfYoureReadingThis has from friends at other universities, Meredith saw the potential it had to bring people together at SMU. She tapped Sydney Castle, a close friend with leadership experience across campus, to help develop the chapter, and together they set off to connect the SMU community through open, honest discussion surrounding mental health. They hope that the SMU chapter will encourage others to feel supported in their mental health journey and break the stigma surrounding mental health.
APRIL 13, 2022
IfYoureReadingThis expands to Colorado College under the leadership of Grace Ferguson and Lucy Wagner. Grace and Lucy have seen others cope with and have personally dealt with challenges to their mental health. Upon learning about IfYoureReadingThis and recognizing the gaps in the mental health resources on campus, Grace and Lucy felt that Colorado College could benefit from an organization that empowers the community to be open about mental health. Their hope is for IfYoureReadingThis to serve as a platform where members of the Colorado College community can come together through the act of storytelling and de-stigmatizing common experiences.
APRIL 22, 2022
IfYoureReadingThis launches at Boston University through the leadership of Kendall Jenkins. After watching the impact that IfYoureReadingThis had after she graduated from UVA, it was one of the first resources she wanted to set up after starting medical school during the pandemic. Kendall felt like this resource could help to bridge the isolation many students were feeling and set up a network of undergraduate and graduate students dedicated to prioritizing and having open conversations about mental health. With the help of Emma Kraus, the chapter grew to the undergrad campus and hopes to create an atmosphere where students feel united through vulnerability and community support.
APRIL 25, 2022
IfYoureReadingThis expands to the University of Wisconsin - Madison under the leadership of Rohit Singhal. Having personally dealt with mental health challenges and helping his friends through their own struggles, Rohit recognized the importance of destigmatizing mental health and spreading awareness. After learning about IfYoureReadingThis from friends at other universities, Rohit was immediately drawn to this mission and thought UW-Madison could benefit greatly from an organization that promotes conversation about mental health. His hope for the Wisconsin chapter of IfYoureReadingThis will serve as a platform that brings students together and provides a support network for people struggling with mental health challenges.
MAY 3, 2022
IfYoureReadingThis launches at Virginia Commonwealth University through the leadership of Amisha Jaiswal. After witnessing several of her close friends and family members struggle with their mental health in silence, she learned about the power of conversation, connection, and vulnerability. She knew that the VCU community needed an accessible mental health resource that would make students feel heard while narrowing the gap between those who are struggling with mental illness and the individuals who care about them. Reshaping the community’s approach with mental health begins with inspiring deeper, more meaningful conversations and fostering a community of support. Amisha hopes that IfYoureReadingThis will encourage students and staff to share their powerful stories so that we can diminish the stigma that surrounds mental health while offering a token of hope to those who are struggling in her ramily.
NOVEMBER 2, 2022
IfYoureReadingThis expands to Virginia Tech under the leadership of Sydney Weeks and Keaton Band. After experiencing vulnerable conversations in another organization, Sydney and Keaton recognize the power behind opening up and having tough conversations, inspiring others to be comfortable to do the same. They know everyone faces the impacts of mental health everyday and IfYoureReadingThis can have a positive impact on the Blacksburg community by helping build meaningful connections. In the hopes that mental health becomes less stigmatized at Virginia Tech, they co-founded an IfYoureReadingThis chapter to spread positivity, awareness, and communication on campus.
NOVEMBER 14, 2022
IfYoureReadingThis launches at Duke University under the leadership of Anjali Kapadia. While struggling with the transition to college, Anjali came across IfYoureReadingThis and resonated with the letters she read. She felt a sense of relief in knowing that she wasn’t alone in her struggles. Anjali realized that bringing IfYoureReadingThis to Duke would empower students to speak up in support of one another and ultimately feel less alone. Her hope for Duke’s chapter is that Duke students realize that their authentic stories have the power to make a positive difference in another person’s life just like they did for her.
2023
JANUARY 11, 2023
IfYou’reReadingThis expands to Northwestern University under the leadership of Finola Summerville and Seela Hinrichs. Throughout their time at Northwestern, the two have watched the community wrestle with mental health challenges while neglecting to seek support due to the culture of perfection on campus. As a result of this culture, as well as the lack of sufficient on-campus resources, Seela and Finola decided to bring IfYou’reReadingThis to Northwestern. The two hope that IfYou’reReadingThis will function as a network of support for the Northwestern community and encourage those struggling to seek help.
SEPTEMBER 13, 2023
Kendall Palazzi brings IfYoureReadingThis to Syracuse University. After seeing the strides her good friend Julia Stanisci made at Villanova through IfYoureReadingThis and noticing how many students in the Syracuse community struggle with their mental health, Kendall wanted to change the narrative around mental illness and mental health challenges on campus. As Kendall continues to work through her anxiety daily, she has realized the power of vulnerability and the strength it shows when one’s open about how they feel. Kendall hopes IfYoureReadingThis at Syracuse will make social media a more encouraging place and be a reminder of the support system the Syracuse community has within one another.
COMMENTS & QUESTIONS
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