Behind Happy Faces: Behind The Scenes

---

February is the month of love. It’s the time to profess to those around you how much you care for them, and no one does that better for our sisters than the Behind Happy Faces committee. I sat down with one of the heads of BHF to get a sense of what their mission is all about.

Behind Happy F

aces is a campaign Alpha Omicron Pi recently launched in order to create an educated and welcoming environment among sisters regarding tough topics. Nichole Doty, Kappa Kappa’s Risk Manager, explained more of its purpose.

“Behind Happy Faces is a way to facilitate lessons that may be usually hard topics to talk about. The mission is to generate a conversation about mental health, because for some reason mental health is often looked at as a taboo topic to speak upon, “Nichole said. “It’s an awesome way to really connect with sisters and to teach them how they can cope with internal and external issues going on with not only themselves but sisters as well.”

Nichole believes it’s important to address mental and emotional health within the Greek system in order to dig deeper beyond our busy schedules.

“Often times I feel as though we get caught up in the socials, philanthropies, volunteerism, which don’t get me wrong is amazing, but a chapter is only as excellent as the members make it… We have to remember we are all here to support one another,” she explained.

So far, the committee has done little things to brighten each sister’s day. They’ve written personalized notes to every member both during recruitment season and throughout the semester. This helps each sister to know that those around her are proud to share their letters with her.

Nichole also prepares presentations and mini lessons during chapter to further the conversation of mental health. Her talks give sisters coping skills and encourage them to make healthy habits.

Nichole is excited to see the impact Behind Happy Faces will have upon the women in our chapter. She is confident that sisters will gain the skills necessary to create a non-judgmental dialog and a loving environment around mental health.

Nichole said, “I think it will be an amazing thing to see many of our sisters become amazing leaders.”