Advocating for Full Stops

print
« Back

Advocating for Full Stops

While navigating major changes amid a pandemic and movements for racial equality, Kevin Nigarura ’16 pressed on—until a life-changing event caused him to re-examine his own preconceived notions about mental wellness.

During Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2021, as part of NU Live!, Nigarura candidly discussed his bipolar and depression diagnoses. He also advocated for time to process transition periods in our lives and shared how his experiences have challenged his thoughts on society’s goal-oriented culture.

“We need full stops,” Nigarura said. “We need the ability to take care of ourselves to process what is going on in our daily and weekly lives. Moments of transition, especially when some trauma is held, require and deserve the appropriate time to reflect and pause.”

This Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re highlighting Nigarura’s story and others related to mental health and wellness.

Explore Related Content

What Is Wellness Anyway? Practical First Steps for Navigating Your Mental Health Journey

How do you deal with stress? While it’s become more commonplace to openly talk about self-care, finding the right mental health practitioner can be a daunting task.

Join Nattalie Wolff-Tseng ’21 MA and Isabella Herrera ’21 MA from Elevated Healthcare on Friday, May 6, at noon CDT for a webinar about getting the mental health care you deserve. Gain insights into knowing when to seek therapy, practicing preventative care for stress and anxiety, and identifying next steps for seeking professional guidance.

Register Now

Authenticity, Kindness, and Vulnerability in Media with Liza Katzer

Check out a Northwestern Intersections interview with Liza Katzer ’08, co-executive producer of the Emmy Award–winning Apple TV+ comedy Ted Lasso. In this podcast episode, Katzer—one of the Hollywood Reporter’s 35 Under 35 Upcoming Entertainment Executives to Watch—talks about her struggles with mental health from her time at Northwestern to the early years of her entertainment career. She also shares lessons she learned as a woman in a position of power in the workplace, examines the media’s impact on women’s well-being, and discusses how Ted Lasso contributes to the way we perceive mental health, vulnerability, depictions of women, and more.

Play the Podcast

Music Therapy and Its Intersections with Rehabilitation and Wellness

In this webinar, Leslie Jabara Wrenn ’95 explores the healing and restorative powers of music therapy. Wrenn, a board-certified (MT-BC) and IACAT-registered music therapist based in Dublin, guides us through the intrinsic ways creative arts therapies intersect with development, wellness, and overall quality of life improvements.

Learn More