Students across Coastal Carolina University’s campus are flaunting green bandanas to symbolize mental health awareness.
With a goal to encourage peer-to-peer connection and break the stigma surrounding mental health, the Green Bandana Project is a mental health initiative brought to campus through a collaboration with the Student Government Association (SGA), Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and Livewell.
One of the student-member leaders of the green bandana project, Christopher Koloski, explained how students with green bandanas have completed a one-time, three-hour training session to help direct others to mental health resources and represent a safe space for others.
“When a student is seen with a bandana, it means two things,” Koloski said. “You’re aware of what mental resources are on our campus, but we also teach you how to engage in those critical conversations. You’re not diagnosing anybody, you’re not consulting; you’re simply directing the resources that we already have here on campus that students are paying for in their tuition.”
The first two hours of the training session are led by CAPS, focusing on first-aid suicide awareness and prevention. During this portion, students learn how to engage in meaningful conversations with peers who may be struggling.
The final hour is led by the Green Bandana Project leadership team, covering mental health resources available on campus and teaching students how to become vocal advocates for their peers.
After completing the training, each participant receives a green bandana to attach to their bags.
Koloski explained how the leadership team carefully selected 20 participants for their first training session, choosing representatives from different areas such as Greek life, student run organizations and various other clubs to ensure wide representation across campus.
Lashay Watson, also a student-member leader, noted that reaching diverse groups is essential, especially in communities of color where mental health discussions are often stigmatized.
“Some people may not be as open to others to have vulnerable conversations and be more informed about the campus resources that we have,” Watson said.
SGA President Lyndsey Gilbert shared how she hopes to see the university’s administration become more involved.
‘‘Administrations could better support initiatives across the universities by the first step of being aware that students struggle and not trying to shy away from that,” Gilbert said.
The Green Bandana Project encourages individuals not to be afraid to seek help before help is needed. In-person resources can be found in the Lib Jackson Student Union in Suite B213.
Future updates and events regarding the initiative will be shared on the project’s official Instagram page.
