Members of the CUE Campaign fundraised and raised awareness about bipolar disorder in the galleria at lunch from 17 May to 19 May. CUE stands for Caring, Understanding, and Empathy, and is an organization developed to help relieve the stigma against bipolar disorder.
People often believe that bipolar disorder is not a serious illness, or that people with bipolar disorder are crazy. However, the truth remains that bipolar disorder is a mental illness. Just as physical illnesses can be cured, mental illnesses can also be treated.
Members on the C.U.E. club at Marc Garneau held a display in the galleria. Small items were sold to raise money for bipolar disorder, and pamphlets were handed out to increase awareness. Photo: Deifilia To
The purpose of the campaign was to raise awareness for the disorder, and money to help fund the aforementioned campaign. At the CUE display, students could donate $2 to purchase a deck of playing cards. All proceeds from the sales would go towards CUE Campaign. They also had chapstick, and information pamphlets available for students to take. Furthermore, students could sign a pledge form as a promise to help stop the stigma against bipolar disorder. The pledge will go back towards the CUE Campaign, and served as a complementary activity for the sales. With the pledge, students could get involved, even if they didn’t have the money to purchase playing cards.
The co-chair of the CUE Campaign is Neha Yousuf, in Grade 11. She commented that Garneau students were relatively supportive of the cause. However, many were willing to sign the pledge, but fewer students wanted to donate any money. As a result, sales were rather slow. In order to combat this, volunteers from the CUE Campaign roamed the hallways to reach out to more students.
The most important message that Neha has for students, is that “the faster you raise awareness, the faster they [people with bipolar disorder] will be better”. The truth about bipolar disorder needs to be spread among the general public, because it will make it easier for those with the disorder to fit in, and improve their condition.
To encourage students to get involved, Nila said that “people should become more aware”, and that they “shouldn’t be afraid to reach out” to others who may need help.
