As we kick off Mental Illness Awareness Week, you may be hearing more about mental health on social media, in the news, and among your friends and family, including various types of mental illnesses. This can unfortunately often include some of the many misconceptions related to mental health that persist in our society. As we…
Content Warning: Mention of suicide attempts and suicidal ideation. The world needs you here because…well, why? For those living with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health disorders, the answer can sometimes feel unclear. And in a time when racism, transphobia, homophobia, antisemitism, and ableism continue to persist, I know firsthand how hard it can…
Content Warning: This piece contains mentions of suicide. Welcome to our awesome group of Active Minds interns! We’re so excited to work with them to continue changing the conversation around mental health. Diya Basu 1. Where are you from? I’m from Sammamish, WA (30 minutes outside Seattle). 2. Where do you go to school and…
Imagine coming home to your mom and asking her to do something you know she would never let you do, but you still ask. You feel that knot in your stomach, and your voice starts to quiver. Growing up, this is how I – and many other Hispanic children and young adults I knew –…
Content Warning: This piece contains mentions of suicidal ideation, religious trauma, and homophobia. I noticed from a young age that I was interested in both sexes. As a kid, I went to a private Catholic school from kindergarten through fifth grade before then attending a public middle school. I remember being preached to in second…
Content Warning: This piece contains mentions of suicide. One of the hardest and most impactful elements of my role with Active Minds is the opportunity to spend time with the families and loved ones of those who have been lost to suicide. Despite the unfortunate circumstances under which we get to know each other, it’s…
Today marks the beginning of the second year of our Mental Health Advocacy Academy. The Academy is a unique leadership opportunity for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) high school students to create change in their schools and communities. Our 2022 youth advocates (listed below) will…
A new school year marks a new beginning, filled with determination, optimism, and, unfortunately, sometimes nervousness, dread, or feelings of overwhelm. It’s not uncommon when things start to feel difficult for students to forgo their self-care for academic achievement. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. As we start a new semester, I instead…
Content Warning: This piece contains mentions of suicide statistics. Last Thursday, the Active Minds National Staff hosted a Fall Programs Open House, designed to share more about the mental health programs available to our community this season. If you weren’t able to attend, we encourage you to read more about the programs featured below and…
One day, I was unpacking my two oldest daughters’ backpacks (both elementary students), and a worksheet caught my attention. It was a “gratitude jar” coloring page, and both of my children scribbled into their jars pictures of things they most appreciated: our dog, their friends, cheese, and more. The worksheet stood out amid all the…
Active Minds is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization promoting mental health awareness and education for young adults.