Blog Posts by raej
Start Where You Are. Speak What You Know. Change What You Can.
Mental health advocacy doesn’t require a law degree, a title, or a seat in a government office. It starts with something we all have: a voice. As youth advocates for mental health, we started by doing what anyone can do — refusing to be bystanders. We saw the stigma. We saw the gaps. And instead…
Graduating Into The Unknown
As the class of 2025 celebrates their graduation and tosses their caps into the sky, I can’t help but feel a sense of recognition. Leaving college is always a bittersweet moment, the end of one chapter and the start of another. It’s a time of parting ways with familiar faces and places you’ve come to…
Breaking Free from Cultural Stigma in Mental Health
The term “saving face” is something I have grappled with over the years. This phrase, originating from Chinese culture, refers to the effort to protect one’s reputation, honor, and dignity in social settings. While this concept is deeply ingrained in many Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, it often creates barriers to discussing stigmatized topics…
Stress Less This Week And Beyond
April is here — bringing more sun, warmer weather, and, yes, exams. Balancing stress and anxiety with life’s demands can feel overwhelming and isolating. That’s why Active Minds launched Stress Less Week®, a national program that occurs in the fall and spring each year. Our goal with Stress Less Week® is clear: build communities that…
The Cost of Being Perfect on Paper
The more I read and the closer I looked at the patients under my care, I could see High-Functioning Depression (HFD) was everywhere. But people couldn’t go to their doctor and ask for a diagnosis or a prescription for antidepressants for it. If they did, the doctor would run through a quick screening tool for…
Active Minds Celebrates Surpassing 1,000 K-12 Schools in 1,000 Days: A Historic Milestone for Youth Mental Health
We are beyond excited to announce a historic milestone in Active Minds’ journey: we’ve surpassed our goal of reaching 1,000 K-12 schools in 1,000 days, and we did it months ahead of schedule! Each of these K-12 schools joined our mental health movement by bringing Active Minds to their school, demonstrating a prioritization of mental…
One Word, One Phrase, One Sentence.
Black History Month is a special time to reflect on the past, present, and future accomplishments of Black Americans and individuals in the diaspora. It is also a time (as it should be year-round) to uplift the voices and words of the next generation, something that often gets overlooked. Reflecting on my journey, I realized…
Why Change is the Best Teacher
So, it’s that time of the year again — January rolls around, and suddenly everyone’s making resolutions and reflecting on life. But here’s the thing: fresh starts don’t follow a calendar. Trust me, I’ve learned this firsthand. Change doesn’t wait for a specific date; it just shows up, usually uninvited, and asks, “Are you ready?”…
What does it mean to support young trans people in an unsupportive world?
Content Warning: This piece contains mentions of violence, death, and suicide. Today, November 20th, marks the 25th occurrence of Transgender Day of Remembrance. Initially created in 1999 as a vigil to memorialize Rita Hester and all others lost to anti-transgender violence that year, this day of observance has since evolved into a global movement. Transgender…
Meet the Athletes — Philadelphia Marathon Weekend
Whether you’re racing in Philadelphia, Indianapolis, NYC, or anywhere in between — Team Active Minds helps you run for a purpose. Those looking to contribute to mental health change can use fitness to add meaning to their miles by partnering with Active Minds while completing marathons, bike rides, and endurance events in their communities. It’s easy…
Active Minds is the largest nonprofit in the United States mobilizing youth and young adults to transform mental health norms across society.