Blog Posts by Hannah Williams
Taking Life at My Own Pace: How I’m Managing the Return to “Normal”
If you would have told me in March of 2020 that in a little over a year, I’d be graduating, moving to a new city, and starting my first full-time job all in the span of a few weeks, I would have never believed you. And if you told me on top of all of…
Raising Awareness for Veteran Suicide Prevention
Content Warning: This piece contains mentions of suicide. On September 25th, 2018, our chapter of Active Minds at Eastern Michigan University located in Ypsilanti, Michigan hosted a lobby tabling event in our student center. The purpose of the event was to honor the 18-22 veterans who die by suicide every day and to spread awareness…
A Father’s Letter
Content Warning: This piece contains mentions of suicide. When you’re a parent, September always feels like the start of something new. That’s why this time of year is so hard for my wife Selme and me. Our daughter Kaleigh died three years ago. She would have just graduated from USC and be embarking on a…
Chicanx/Latinx Salud Mental
Content Warning: This piece contains mentions of suicide statistics. When mental health is not a conversation within your community – you start a conversation. This is especially important amongst diverse, multicultural communities where mental health is often ignored or stigmatized. As the former executive director on the Active Minds UCLA board and former campus ambassador for…
Tylor’s Story: Now It’s About Helping Other People
Content Warning: This piece contains mentions of suicidal ideation. I was blessed to discover Active Minds, which allowed me to make lemonade out of lemons (my bipolar diagnosis). At one point in my life, I wasn’t looking forward to the future. A year later, I am motivated beyond belief to give back to this organization….
13 Ways to Continue the Conversation about 13 Reasons Why
A note from Active Minds: Many people have found 13 Reasons Why triggering. In making your own decision to watch or not watch, we encourage you to review this resource from the Jed Foundation and SAVE. Markie’s perspective below is one of the many nuanced ways that mental health advocates and organizations have responded to…
What REALLY Happens When You Reach Out to Crisis Lines?
Content Warning: This piece contains mentions of suicide. As someone interested in mental health, you may know the numbers to the Crisis Text Line (text BRAVE to 741741) and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK) by heart. What you may not know is what happens — and what doesn’t happen — once you pick up…
A Tale of Two Leaves
Content Warning: This piece contains mentions of suicide. This post was written by Mark Farley, Former Active Minds Intern and current Graduate Student at Emory University. “The only mistake you can make is not asking for help.” – Sandeep Jauhar When I began college, I thought it would only be four years. Society tells you…
Reflections on the UCLA Tragedy & Mental Health
Content Warning: This piece contains mentions of suicide. Juliette Virzi is a former member of Active Minds at UCLA and the Active Minds Student Advisory Committee. When I woke up yesterday morning, I didn’t expect to begin the day in my living room, huddled around with six fellow students watching live news coverage of a…
My Last Conversation with My Dad
Content Warning: This piece contains mentions of suicide. One of the last conversations I had with my father was him pleading, “Help me. Please, help me.” My dad came to this country from Cuba when he was just 15, speaking no English and having no family in the states. Over the course of a few…
Active Minds is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization promoting mental health awareness and education for young adults.