A campaign designed to eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness will use imagery of a blue elephant to signal safe spaces to talk about mental health.

“When you display your blue elephant, you show that you care about the wellness of others, that here you can bring up mental illness without fear of being looked upon differently, thought of less, or punished,” says Courtney Williston, coordinator of the Peer Support Centre. “You will be treated with respect and dignity.”

An awareness campaign on the UWindsor campus will kick off with an event at 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, in the CAW Student Centre Commons. The Elephant in the Room launch will feature appearances by: Student Counselling Centre director Mohsan Beg, spoken-word artist Jordy Arsenault-Kivell, singer-songwriter Lanette Perry, and Pamela Blackmore of the Mood Disorders Society of Canada.