For the past five years, counselors across Dallas College have been attempting to introduce positive coping skills to students who may be dealing with stress and anxiety as a result of the various challenges college life poses.

They do this by hosting a mental health and wellness symposium each year. The symposium is structured around mental health and introduces people to skills to positively cope with stress and anxiety. Activities include art, music and physical exercise among other things. The sixth annual mental health and wellness symposium is set to take place at Richland on April 26 and will begin in the Fannin Hall performance auditorium at 9 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. The event is free and is open to all students and faculty.

Among those who will be present are Dr. Justin Lonon, chancellor of Dallas College, Dr Kathryn K. Eggleston, Richland Campus president, Dr. Thaddeus Mantaro, dean of student health and wellness, along with all 17 Dallas College counselors.

Dallas College provides counseling on stress, anxiety, depression and relationships. Louis D. Whatley is a professional counselor at the Richland campus whose office is located at the Lakeside Resource Center in El Paso Hall, Room E082.

Whatley said the purpose of the event is to shine light on positive coping skills in a fun environment while informing students and staff about counseling centers on all of seven campuses.

“All of the counselors are putting this together,” he said, adding “The symposium will not be confined to the performance auditorium.” Whatley said there will be breakout sessions and different events around campus.”

In the past, mental health symposiums have drawn large crowds. The attendance for this year’s symposium is estimated to be in the hundreds, according to Whatley. Attendance is open to all students and faculty and is encouraged.