Bloomfield graduate advocates for mental health awareness – Newsroom

This is one of many stories highlighting Start of winter 2025 graduates who are pursuing the American dream and have found a quality education and a sense of belonging at Montclair State University.

When Lataiva Balmer, a psychology student at Montclair State University Bloomfield CollegeFaced with mental health issues, she realized that it was a topic rarely discussed in the black community. Determined to break stigma and advocate for understanding, Balmer found her voice – and a community willing to listen.

Thanks to his original podcast, What’s up with mental health and everything elseit opens conversations with students and others about ways to improve their mental well-being, especially in the wake of the pandemic.

This ceremony is the first time Bloomfield students have graduated with Montclair students in the same ceremony, and like Balmer preparing to participate on Jan. 13, she reflected on the supportive, supportive community that helped her thrive.

“Bloomfield is truly a family, and as I graduate, I feel like I’m leaving my family behind,” she said.

Finding purpose and community

Balmer spent only two years at Bloomfield, taking additional classes during the summer and winter sessions to graduate early after transferring as a sophomore. She had taken a year off from college during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“At the time, I knew I was in college, but I didn’t really know why I was there,” she says. “I took this year off to understand my “why”. During this time, I faced depression, family difficulties, and challenges I had never faced before.

Once she joined the Bloomfield campus and became involved in a multitude of activities, including McNair Scholarship Program and student government, and as a residential assistant and peer mentor – she noticed similar struggles among students.

“But we weren’t talking enough about mental health, especially in the black community,” she says. “Given their campus was majority minority, many students seemed hesitant to confront issues like anxiety, depression, and self-consciousness.”

Determined to make a difference, Balmer found support from Bloomfield’s consulting team to launch her podcast. “We explore topics relevant to students, sometimes addressing systemic issues like prisons and education systems, which lead to political discussions,” she says. Some episodes focus on practical topics, like coping mechanisms for depression and anxiety. “We also tackle lighter topics like love, favorite sports and family dynamics to promote balanced mental well-being.”

Balmer continues to expand his podcast’s audience, with episodes now streaming on Spotify. Listener comments highlight its relevance and honesty, she says. “It creates a sense of purpose when listeners share the podcast on their own pages to help raise awareness about mental health.” It brings me peace to know that I’m not just talking to a camera and a microphone: someone is listening, applying the advice and appreciating it.

“Write your own story”

Reflecting on his journey, Balmer says:

“What I have accomplished here in just two years has allowed me to grow and persevere to become the person I know I can be. I have always been passionate about law and psychology, fields that fascinated me since middle school. Bloomfield has given me the tools to lay the foundation for my goals, even if the picture isn’t completely complete yet. I am convinced that the future will be just as rewarding.

Balmer captured his thoughts in a written article titled Two years too sweetwhere she explained how Bloomfield shaped her not only academically, but also personally:

“As I reflect on my time here at Bloomfield College, I take away all the love and support I have gained from every experience and encounter I have had. What I get from it are lots of in-depth conversations, music suggestions, scoldings, sharp eyes, podcast recommendations, nicknames, hugs, and prayers. But above all, I take with me unexpected relationships and long-term laughter. “Write your own story” is a theme that we as Bears pride ourselves on, and I took it personally. I knew it was the right place to forge my story.

She continues: “My goal was to create and leave a legacy that others could appreciate and follow. In doing so, I discovered new ways to make an impact: teaching others how to start clubs, giving mental health advice, comforting my peers, encouraging confidence, living up to Portraits of Excellence , recite poetry and find myself in all these successes. »

“I take with me gratitude for everyone who made sure I was okay. I thank Bloomfield College for taking a confused but driven young girl and making her into a focused, passionate, intense, loving and gentle woman.

After graduating, Balmer will begin working as a tutor for the Dual Enrollment Programs at Montclair State University, which offers high school students the opportunity to earn college credits while completing their high school requirements. She also plans to pursue graduate studies in international law or mental health counseling.

“It wasn’t until I transferred to Bloomfield College that I really sat down and asked myself, ‘Who do I want to be?’ Where do I want to go? How am I going to get there?’ “, Balmer reflects. “These questions helped me paint a picture of my life. It’s not perfect yet, but the basics are there, and that’s what matters most.

Story written by the editor Marilyn Joyce Lehren.

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