“Students Against Stigma” was created by Law and Society student, Angelina Rose. Angelina has had a passion for mental health advocacy ever since her own struggles with anxiety and depression. She first began experiencing symptoms of an anxiety disorder in 2015 when she was a freshman in high school but felt stuck and did not know who to turn to as it was never really taught in school what anxiety even was. She faced stigma herself when trying to seek help and advice from her peers and teachers and had to teach herself what support and rights she was entitled to with the help of her parents.
Angelina has always tried to see the good in any difficult situation and so she views her journey with mental health as the way she was able to find her voice and revealed her passion for law and advocating for those who struggle to voice their own needs and at times, feelings. This project was created with the intention to provide support and support the efforts to eliminate stigma against mental health for college students, as they are in the age group of 18-25 which is the most vulnerable population for developing a mental health disorder because of the pressures of the transitional period from teenager to adult.