Struggles brought to light
Student ministry promotes abuse awareness
November 21, 2006
Janelle K. Robinson
In the midst of her own struggle with clinical depression, fourth year student Angela McCormick found the inspiration to launch the Abuse Awareness for Students Ministry (AASM) two years ago in her Human Kinetics self-defense class.
After hearing the stories of abuse among her peers and reflecting on her own experiences, McCormick felt compelled to start this ministry at Trinity Western University. According to McCormick, TWU is a place where people are screaming for help, but have a hard time finding it because of the stigma surrounding depression and other psychological disorders.
Launching the ministry was a personal struggle for McCormick, but she felt the call of God on her life to help others. After much prayer, she began creating brochures and doing projects, and “working her butt off” to form a relationship with the Wellness Centre, she said.
“A lot of people came forward because I was open with my brokenness,” she explained. “That’s when you can actually deal with it – in a community setting.”
The AASM, in partnership with the Wellness Centre, now provides information and contact resources to students on the issues of assault, substance abuse, eating disorders, depression and suicide.
McCormick’s most recent project is the Depression and Suicide Awareness Evening Seminar. The event, which is sponsored by the Wellness Centre, takes place Nov. 22 in the Northwest Auditorium.
During the seminar, health professionals will share on depression and suicide prevention, followed by testimonies given by a TWU professor and a student on their own struggle with depression. An open forum of discussion will address misconceptions many people have towards clinical depression, said McCormick, who has seen people’s needs brushed off after they are told that Christians aren’t supposed to feel down.
“That’s very wrong,” she said, “from a theological and a health standpoint.”
“I still suffer from depression,” she added. “I’m doing the best I’ve ever done, but you still have down times. I’m planning all this stuff, I have papers, but God has done so much and provided so much.”
The depression and suicide seminar has been one of McCormick’s dreams since she started the AASM, and she sees it as a parting gift both to her from the community and from her to TWU.
“TWU and Redeemer Pacific College have really been a place where I’ve undergone a lot of healing,” she said. “I feel like I’ve discerned my calling here. I hope to come back in a professor capacity.”
McCormick, who graduates this spring, will move to the United States to complete her Masters. She hopes to pass the torch on to others at TWU to keep this ministry going, but said that “it’s up to the community.”
Up until three weeks ago, McCormick ran the AASM alone, but recently people have started responding, she said.
“I would love more [help],” she said, “It’s pretty crazy what I’ve been able to accomplish on my own…so if a group of people are able to stand up and continue it, I know how much the Spirit will work.”
Visit AASM’s website at
http://members.shaw.ca/awareness4students or email McCormick at awareness4students@yahoo.ca
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4 Responses to “Struggles brought to light”
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I have a lot of respect for Ms. McCormick. It takes a lot of Courage to talk about your own depression due to the stigma attached to it. Breaking the Code of Silience is the key ingredient for treatment and cure of depression. seeking help. A small group of motivatted and thoughtful people can change the world. Ms. McCormick talking openly about her depression helps thousands of others to seek help.
Fabulous — I like the connection between bodily health & spiritual health.
RK
Angela is a constant inspiration to me because of how she open is with her own struggles, and how her own healing in turn facilitates to healing of so many others. She has inspired me throughout my healing process from depression and past sexual assult, to reach out and help others who are alone in their own suffering.
I attended the depression and suicide seminar last November. Not only did counsellors talk about depression clinically and not only did students open up about their experiences, but one of the professors that I respect also shared some of the struggles he had during his undergraduate experience. I’m grateful that he was able to talk about that personal part of his life so openly in order to remind students that the dark nights we may encounter are not permanent.