The unique impact of Active Minds often comes from the students with silent glances of gratitude for our understanding. We seek to make sense to those who need it the most.
-Member, Active Minds |
Active Minds at Northern Illinois University created and sent a banner of support to Virginia Tech shortly after the April, 2007 tragedies
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My involvement with Active Minds over the past two years has helped me gain the courage to speak openly about my personal struggle with bipolar disorder, relieving what was once an overwhelming secret that, at times, was too hard to bear. Being more open about my own mental illness has also become one of the most fulfilling and rewarding processes of my life; on more than one occasion, a fellow student has approached me and told me how Active Minds' awareness-raising events and the candidness with which I have shared my story has given them the courage to begin breaking their silence about their personal mental illness. Working with my college Active Minds chapter to tear down the walls that stigma builds in order to help more people find the strength to speak out about their personal experiences with mental illness has become a central--perharps THE central--mission of my undergraduate career, and I am confident that working with Active Minds members who passionately devote their energy toward realizing the same goal the walls that stigma builds will continue to erode.
-Member, Active Minds at Penn |
Active Minds at Missouri sponsored massages as part of National Stress Out Day |
Active Minds is an organization that is breaking the silence about mental health and changing people's outlooks and opinions on mental health everyday.
-Member, Active Minds at Brandeis
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The start of the Active Minds at Niagara 'Stomp Out Stigma' Run
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We joined Active Minds because we believe that we are in the mental health revolution. We want to help our campus see that mental health is an important topic that is underrepresented and not addressed on college campuses. We both want college students on our campus to know that they are not alone in their mental health problems and make them aware of the services available to them as well as make those who may not be experiencing mental health problems aware that this is an issue that needs to be addressed by everyone.
-Members, Active Minds at Brandeis University; Waltham, MA |
Active Minds at Colorado State University receives the 2006 Chapter of the Year Award
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I'm interested in mental health in both a social and academic context. My reason for getting involved in Active Minds comes from direct experience with persons close to me who have dealt with issues relating to mental health and a desire to both better understand and advocate for their needs & experiences. It's becoming increasingly clear that the foremost hurdle to bettering our understanding and bettering the experience for those directly or indirectly affected is overcoming the stigma attached to matters concerning mental health. I think that Active Minds is equipped to do just this by opening discussion and promoting awareness.
-Member, Active Minds at Bryn Mawr College; Bryn Mawr, PA
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Active Minds at Bryn Mawr shows its campus the face of mental illness |
Active Minds is an inspiring organization that provides students with a forum to learn about and express their thoughts on Mental Health disorders. It is also an organization that endorses and provides positive alternatives to reducing stress on college campuses. At Niagara Universtiy, Active Minds has focused on flyering campus with informational posters and holding panel discussions where students can learn about and pose questions about different mental health issues. We support the goals of the Active Minds Charter and have done what we can to help students find help and to reduce the stigma associated with mental health diagnoses. We have also put forth a great deal of effort to provide activities where students can relax and reduce stress.
-Members, Active Minds at Niagara University; Niagara University, NY
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Active Minds at Colorado State University poses with first lady of Colorado, Jeannie Ritter |
I am very proud to be the founder and president of the Active Minds chapter at University of South Florida. As the founder of the USF chapter I have taken on the challenge making sure this organization will last for all future USF students. The leadership experience gained from this position will help get through any obstacles later on in my life. Learning how to communicate with my peers, faculty members, and mental health providers in Greater TampaBay area is an invaluable experience that I am very fortunate to have received.
Even though this position will help later on in life, Active Minds means more to me than just an accomplishment I can attach my name to and put on my vita. It also serves as an avenue for everyone at USF to express any mental health concerns with their peers. At least once a day, students from different majors tell me how important the chapter is to them and how much they enjoy being able to finally talk about mental health problems with their peers. Every time I hear this I am even more motivated to make sure Active Minds is functioning the best it possibly can. I know that I will never be able to reach everyone during my term as president. However, I measure success by the one or two people a day that Active Minds touches. Keeping this mind, I know there is a bright future ahead for Active Minds.
-Founder, Active Minds at University of South Florida; Tampa, FL
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Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison (author of An Unquiet Mind) poses with Active Minds Inc staff and Active Minds at American University member at the 2006 Mental Health on Campus Conference
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