During the best and worst of times, students at Western Washington University are finding their communities through a growing network of identity based support groups.
Western’s assorted peer support groups, known as Caring Communities, are designed to strengthen social ties and promote a sense of community, while also offering informal guidance and helping students access valuable on-campus resources, according to the wellness website.
Cindy Bruns, director of counseling at Central Washington University, said there is significant value in sharing your experience with others, especially when you’re surrounded by those that can relate to those experiences.
“Identity-based support groups provide a unique opportunity for students to come together and maybe feel a little less like they need to explain their experiences and more that they can share their experiences and find a sense of commonality,” Bruns said.
According to the National Library of Medicine, individuals who experience a positive sense of community had lower odds of reporting depression, anxiety and stress symptoms than their negative counterparts.
There are a variety of different Caring Communities that meet the diverse needs of students, such as Queer and Trans People of Color Check-Ins, a space for queer and trans students of color to connect and seek support.
These gatherings are hosted or co-hosted by the Counseling and Wellness Center and students can request for a meeting to be held by contacting Liz Stuart, the coordinator of peer initiatives for the Counseling and Wellness Center.
Bruns says that creating spaces like these for student interaction relates to a deeper human need for connection and personal relationships and highlights the importance of safe environments for these connections to take place.
“The human need to feel understood by another and feel connected, and feel a sense of belonging because your experience is heard and validated and understood, is such a common and deep need for everyone,” said Bruns.
Madelyn Jones (she/her) is a campus life reporter for The Front this quarter. She is a fourth-year News/Editorial pre-major and Anthropology minor. When she’s not working on a story, she likes reading and listening to music. You can reach her at madelynjones.thefront@gmail.com.
