| Photo of Shante M. Elbert Addressing Audience at Live Loud Oct. 14 Luncheon Courtesy of @mcneesecounseling |
| By Dubem Akukwe The Poke Press McNeese launched Live Loud Connect on Wednesday, a support group intended to continue conversations about addiction and substance misuse beyond the university’s four-day awareness initiative. Tynia Coleman, director of the McNeese Counseling Center, said the support group provides an opportunity for students affected by substance misuse and those interested in prevention to engage with community partners for education and support. Following its first meeting Wednesday, additional sessions are scheduled for Nov. 6, 11 and 18, and Dec. 2. This program follows Live Loud, an awareness and prevention initiative held Oct. 12-15 by the McNeese Counseling Center and Student Health Services. An initiative which Coleman said was introduced in response to the continuing impact of opioid misuse on individuals and families in Calcasieu Parish. “Now is the right time to address this issue because opioids have taken many lives in our parish and are impacting real people daily,” Coleman said. According to Coleman, McNeese received a $60,000 grant through the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury’s Opioid Abatement Grant Program funded through the National Opioid Settlement, which supports prevention, treatment and recovery efforts in affected communities. The four-day initiative featured a mental and physical health resource fair, a screening of “Beautiful Boy,” a campus scavenger hunt, a luncheon focused on awareness, and an outdoor event focused on physical activity and recovery. Coleman also credited several university employees and departments for helping organize the events. Stanley Alexander, director of the Student Union Complex, and Portia Metoyer, assistant director of the complex, for facilities support, along with Jordan Owens, director of recreation, for providing supplies for the outdoor event. The McNeese Alumni Center contributed luncheon centerpieces, while Sodexo provided food and refreshments throughout the week. At the Oct. 14 luncheon, public health expert Shawnté M. Elbert, founder and CEO of Elbert Innovative Solutions, asked attendees a question: “What did you carry into this room that nobody can see?” Drawing on her experience growing up with a father affected by addiction, Elbert discussed how family instability, trauma and other personal circumstances can affect students in ways that may go unnoticed by faculty and staff. Coty Catron, a McNeese graduate student studying clinical mental health counseling, found that message to be one of the most important parts of the luncheon. “The most important message for me was that each student is their own person with unique struggles,” Catron said. Catron said Elbert’s discussion of students missing classes and assignments resonated with him because she considered the circumstances behind their struggles rather than judging their behavior. As an aspiring counselor, Catron said he believes education about substance misuse and addiction is important not only for those who need help but also for those who may be in a position to offer it. “Shame and guilt often prevent people from seeking help and judgement might prevent people from helping someone who needs it,” Catron said. He believes Live Loud Connect could play an important role in reducing that stigma by providing a space where students affected by addiction can speak openly. However, he said participation may depend on whether students believe the benefits of attending outweigh any shame they might feel. Catron suggests stronger publicity and incentives to encourage participation from the broader campus community. Coleman said McNeese plans to make Live Loud an annual event, with the long-term goal of students eventually taking a leading role in organizing the initiative. “We hope that students will embrace the ongoing opportunities to get involved and eventually Live Loud will become students leading this initiative that brings hope, care, and belonging,” Coleman said. Students seeking counseling can contact the McNeese Counseling Center at 337-475-5136. |
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