A Supportive Community for Female Students

At Ohio University, a newly formed organization, the Women’s Mental Health Club (WMHC), aims to cultivate a nurturing environment focused on addressing the mental health needs of women on campus. This initiative strives to build a community where female students can connect, share, and grow together.

Foundation and Mission

The WMHC was established last semester by a group of passionate students: Emma Chapman, Liz Max, Pearl Harris, Morgan Hoog, and Kazia Bethel. The founding members envisioned a welcoming space that provides low-pressure opportunities for women to openly discuss and mitigate the challenges of college life.

President Emma Chapman, a junior majoring in psychology pre-med, encapsulates the club’s mission: “I would say our mission is to help other women in college kind of create some sort of community without it being super overwhelming or seem like a big responsibility.”

Activities and Engagement

The club organizes regular meetings that blend engaging activities with essential mental health resources, striving to create a stress-relieving escape for its members. According to Morgan Hoog, the club’s secretary and event coordinator, “We want them to be able to get out of studying and have a fun thing to do in the middle of the week where they can make new friends, talk to people and kind of de-stress their mind in the middle of the week.”

Hoog shares her enthusiasm for the club, noting, “My favorite part is definitely seeing how many girls show up each week, and just hearing them during the meeting talk about how fun it is.”

Inclusivity and Growth

Vice President Liz Max, who studies art therapy and psychology, emphasizes the inclusive nature of the WMHC. “We are always welcoming anyone interested in getting involved,” she states. The club plans to experiment with different meeting schedules to better accommodate the busy lives of women at the university.

Max encourages potential members to reach out via various social media platforms for inquiries: “Even Emma, me, Morgan, or Kazia, asking more in depth about the club if they are really looking to get more interested in it.”

Meeting Information

The Women’s Mental Health Club meets every Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Gordy Hall, Room 111. Students seeking community support and mental health resources are invited to join. Further updates and engagement opportunities can be found on their Instagram, @ou_wmhc.