Hello, my name is Nora Davis, and I am a fourth-year student at The Ohio State University studying Speech and Hearing Sciences with a minor in American Sign Language. When we were presented with the opportunity to raise money for an incredible fund from a platform as large as the OSU Homecoming Court, I knew I wanted to advocate for resources and research dedicated to mental health. This is something so close to my heart due to the experiences of my loved ones, the changes I want to make in my future career, and because I have spent years navigating my own mental health conditions.

Each and every person deals with a wide range of struggles. However, some individuals can hide their battles better than others. Mental health conditions often move in silence, never leaving the mind of the victim. As a highly involved, ambitious, and outgoing individual, I spent much longer than I should have masking the depression and anxiety afflicting me. I spent more and more energy hiding myself and my sadness from the world. This concealing mainly came from guilt: why should I be sad? I have so much to be grateful for! I have an incredible support system made of loving family and gracious friends, I have the opportunity to get an education, there is food on my table each night, and I get to see TBDBITL perform almost every Saturday during fall semesters. But no matter the joy that I experience from these things listed, depression maliciously snuck between each beautiful moment.

I went through the brunt of this happiness-tainting depression during my first year of college. When I spoke to my doctor about my feelings, she suggested dropping out, at least for a short period. For a period, this was a serious consideration of mine. But after speaking with my extremely supportive and incredible parents, I realized I would give it one more year. Since then, I have been treated and become more involved in college. Once I realized there were reasons to stay in Columbus (for me, they were the Ohio Union Activities Board, my friendships, and The Oval on a spring day), I decided to give it my all. 

With that being said, there is still a long way for me to go, but I see the path now. And everyone close to me does, too. I am no longer quiet about my experiences. I want to continue to be loud about the importance of advocacy and resources for people with similar experiences to my own, specifically students. That’s why I chose the Psychology Fund for Mental Health, which benefits the OSU Psychological Services Fund. This fund provides free therapeutical and psychological services to students and those around the community from OSU graduate students. 

Sometimes, the hardest thing to do is to ask for help, especially when you know help comes at a monetary cost. But trust me, it is the most rewarding in the end, and I want more people to experience the relief I was allotted with the right care. Free care. Thank you for your contributions to the Psychology Fund for Mental Health and for hearing my story.