Three-time U.S. Olympian Kendrick Farris will be part of a men’s mental health summit with LSUS fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi on Sept. 10.
Farris, who pledged Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. while an LSUS student, knows the importance of mental health and mentality as a weightlifter who had three top-11 Olympic finishes and set American records in two different weight classes.
Farris will be part of a speaker lineup and panel at You Matter Men’s Mental Health Summit, which is designed to spark conversations with young men and the overall community.
The summit starts at 5:11 p.m. in the LSUS Theatre.
“Men’s mental health isn’t only about what happens when someone reaches a crisis,” Farris said. “It’s also about how we communicate, how we manage our time and responsibilities, and how we take care of ourselves for longevity.
“I want these young men to leave knowing they have brothers and a community they can lean on.”
“Brother” isn’t a word Farris takes lightly.
He said membership in LSUS’s Xi Alpha chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi was an important part of his LSUS experience.
“I pledged Xi Alpha in 2008 as a student, so coming back to support these young men means something different to me,” Farris said. “Brotherhood should extend beyond your years in school.
“If the experiences and relationships I’ve built since leaving LSUS can help the next generation navigate life better, I know that’s part of my responsibility.
The summit will specifically address communication, routine and longevity, and how each aspect impacts mental wellness, relationships, responsibilities and long-term success.
Xi Alpha president Devyn Pitts will emcee the event, providing valuable insight from a college student perspective.
“We wanted to create a space centered around hardship, fellowship, mental health and growth within the bond of young men,” said Pitts, who is a digital arts junior and the LSUS Homecoming King.. “A lot of us Xi Alpha are former or current college athletes, and one thing we realized is that people talk so much about the physical side of being an athlete but not enough about the mental warfare that comes with it.
“Being an athlete, being a student, being a young Black man and simply trying to become a man in today’s world comes with a lot of pressure that isn’t always talked about.”
Pitts said breaking through the stereotype that “men don’t cry” and “rub some dirt on it” can allow young men to experience and process their emotions in a more healthy way.
“Those things taught us how to be tough and keep going, but sometimes they also taught us how to become numb to what we’re feeling,” Pitts said. “We learn how to hide pain instead of talking about it, and when life hits us hard, we may not know how to battle what’s going on in our minds.
“That can lead to isolation, self-sabotage, and feeling like you have to carry everything by yourself. Of course we can always run to God, and I believe that wholeheartedly, but I also believe that God gives us a village for a reason.”
Local artist Komedian KG will bring levity through his comedy and offer his insight into how to maintain mental health while succeeding in a pressure-filled environment.
For more information, contact Pitts via email at [email protected].