Dixie and Charli D’Amelio are perhaps two of the biggest names in American pop culture today. The sisters have amassed a following in the hundreds of millions on social media, starred in their own television series, and shared their lives with people around the world, all before turning twenty-one. Most know the D’Amelios for their…
This year, Active Minds is proud to debut our inaugural Mental Health Advocacy Academy: the only leadership development and mental health advocacy academy that empowers Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) high school students to enact change in their communities. Our 2021 Advocacy Academy students, listed…
Student health, especially mental health, has become a priority in higher education. To better support students that are dealing with a variety of issues, including mental health challenges, many colleges have implemented Leave of Absence (LOA) policies. These policies outline the processes that allow students to take a pause from their studies to focus on…
I’ve spent years working in mental health, alongside thousands of young adults from across the country, all with different stories, and all striving to make access to mental health resources more easily available. A lot has been written recently about the negative impact of technology on mental health. However, technology also has the potential to…
When I helped found an Active Minds chapter at my high school, V-A-R® was one of the first pieces of national programming we participated in. As new members of the movement, V-A-R was a relatable and useful skill for us to learn and was simple and effective to promote on our campus. Now, two and…
There are times when the unknown can be exciting: a new job, a surprise birthday party, the first day of classes. However, there are also times when the unknown can be unsettling, leading to increased stress levels and unwelcome emotions. Throughout the past year and a half, uncertainty has become even more prevalent because of…
Content Warning: This piece contains mentions of suicide. For the past two months, I’ve been traveling across the country to host Send Silence Packing, Active Mind’s award-winning suicide prevention display. When I began, I knew this position would be just as impactful as when Send Silence Packing came to my college and touched me as…
Every Halloween, we’re reminded that, sometimes, it can be fun to be a little scared: from haunted houses, to horror movies, to spooky costumes, it’s part of the excitement. But, there are also times we try to avoid feeling scared, or stressed, or unsure. For many, one of those instances is when it comes to…
College is everything they tell you it will be: challenging, freeing, exhausting, exhilarating, and so much more. It tests you at every corner, never giving you a break before a new challenge meets you at the next turn. Of course, I was prepared for the start of my first semester. How could I not be?…
It was not until my freshman year of college, in the fall of 2019, that I realized I might be suffering from depression. I was sad for no reason. Still tired after getting a good night’s rest. Something felt off. But, to those around me, I was still functioning “normally.” I was able to go…
Active Minds is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization promoting mental health awareness and education for young adults.