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Posts tagged as “stigma”

(Archive September 2019) Break the Silence

By editorialteam on April 15, 2025

Students and Staff Work Together to Reduce Mental Health Stigma

By Casey Merritt | Observer Contributor 

Student Heather Burke, President Vander Hooven, and Professor Sheila Murphy share the goal of helping students find a method to cope with their mental illness. 

Burke says her illnesses held her back “from getting involved at the college, hanging out with friends, and going to the library.” 

Refusing help from faculty and staff at the college, Burke’s way of coping is through a grounding exercise called The Five Senses. 

“I look for five things in five colors, five for each color because it’s more private,” she said. read more

(Archive February 2019) Support Systems for Recovering Addicts

By editorialteam on April 3, 2025

By Alexa Russo | Observer Contributor

Ramsey Clayter, MWCC alum and creator of “The Link,” spoke about weakening the stigma of addiction through Narcan training, educational awareness, and holding more events on campus.

Narcan is a controversial topic, but Clayter believes Narcan training should be available for students who want to learn how to use Narcan. Narcan is covered under health insurances and is free with no prescription. “This would be an opportunity to save lives,” said Clayter. read more

(Archive March 2018) Alumni Combats Video Game Stigmas

By editorialteam on February 5, 2025

By Shayna Rolon | Observer Contributor

Video games, such as the Call of Duty games in the stack above, are often used as examples of violent games without substance
Photo by Benjamin Richard

For the longest time, video games have been perceived on the surface as unbeneficial indulgences that promote violence and demote teaching anything moral/valuable. Most people look at popular franchises such as Call of Duty and Super Smash Bros., that center around shooting and fighting and lack story, and assume that all video games are designed the same way. 

Nora Gavin, an MWCC alumni who is a video game design major, wants to refute the stigma against video games and prove that they have potential to hold just as much substance as a novel and aren’t always about fighting or battling. read more

(Archive December 2017) Community College Student Faces Negative Stigmas

By editorialteam on January 28, 2025

By Brianna Stevens | Assistant Editor

Rebecca “Beckuh” Carmosino
Photo by Benjamin Richard

MWCC student, Rebecca “Beckuh” Carmosino spoke about the stigmas of going to community college as opposed to a traditional four year school. Carmosino is currently taking business courses. She went to Holyoke Community College last year, and took music courses at Keene State. 

Carmosino said, “I feel like I’m more prepared for the real world because I actually have financial responsibilities and I have real world experiences in jobs rather than quick summer jobs.” Juggling an education and a job, or other responsibilities is the biggest difference between community college and four year institutions. read more