Blog Posts by raej
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…
Ways to Cope with Post-Election Stress
Election results can induce emotions, whether celebratory or stressful. Let’s be real: the results of this week’s presidential election have had an especially heavy impact on many of us and with an uncertain road ahead, we may be juggling intense feelings of stress, regardless of political beliefs. Going into the presidential election this year, reported…
Prioritizing Your Voice and Mental Health This Election Season
Election season often brings heavy political discussions. The constant barrage of political narratives, whether in debates, news outlets, social media, or even around the dinner table, can take a significant toll on your mental health. As an immigrant with a large immigrant family, I find dinner conversations especially frustrating. My family’s values differ from mine…
Prioritizing Mental Health After Tragedy with a School-Wide Mental Health Field Day: From the Advisors
From the advisors (school counselors): Kaitlyn Robichaud and Courtney Selig This blog was written by Whitman-Hanson Regional High School’s Active Minds advisors about their experience supporting student-led efforts to advance mental health in their community. This is the second of two pieces sharing the story of these students’ advocacy. To read about this journey/story from…
Prioritizing Mental Health After Tragedy with a School-Wide Mental Health Field Day: From the Students
From the students (officers): Aliyah Chapman, Liz Kowlski, Rylee McTernan, Morin Yacoub, and Maren Bowmen This blog was written by student leaders at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School about their experiences advancing mental health in their community. This is the first of two pieces sharing the story of these students’ advocacy. To read about this journey/story…
Turn Passion into Profession: A Guide to Planning Your Future in the Mental Health Field
It’s never too early to start planning for your future. As you return to school looking forward to charting a new year, it’s important to consider how your actions today inform your path tomorrow. This new season is the perfect time to start thinking about your career and plans for the future. Many of you…
Why Mental Health Must Be Part of Your School’s Launch Plan
As a former educator on the south side of Chicago, I know firsthand the excitement and challenges of launching a new school year. The start of the school year sets the tone for what’s to come. We plan everything—the schedules, the curricula, the safety drills—but too often, mental health programming gets overlooked. And in today’s…
Send Silence Packing: Stories of Loss, Survival and Resilience
Understanding Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Suicide Prevention Awareness Month takes place every September and is dedicated to raising awareness about suicide so that together we can take action and save lives. Every year 726,000 people die by suicide. Youth mental health continues to be one of the most pressing challenges of our time, with the…
Active Minds is the largest nonprofit in the United States mobilizing youth and young adults to transform mental health norms across society.