Advocacy & Awareness
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…
Youth Mental Health Takes Center Stage: Senate Passes Groundbreaking Resolution
Did you know that nearly half of all adolescents in the United States have experienced a mental health disorder at some point in their lives? That’s a staggering statistic, and highlights the importance of a recent development in the U.S. Senate. Last month, the Senate unanimously passed Senate Resolution 769 (S.R. 769), a groundbreaking declaration…
What is MEASURE?
I was shocked and happy when I first received the MEASURE acceptance email. I had applied last minute and thought it was a long shot given Active Mind’s reach. As the introductory emails rolled in a week later, I was excited but unsure exactly what I had signed up for. MEASURE stands for “Mobilizing and…
Your Guide to Advocacy Burnout
Gen Z is no stranger to advocacy. But what happens when mental and physical commitment to a cause becomes too much? This is called advocacy burnout. Earth Day elevates climate and environmental concerns to the top of mind. Many honor the day through participation in outdoor clean-ups, donating to environment-focused organizations, and resharing educational content…
Mental Health Highlights from the 2024 State of the Union
In his 2024 State of the Union address, President Biden reaffirmed his commitment to addressing the ongoing youth mental health crisis in the United States. As the nation continues to grapple with the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing prevalence of mental health disorders among young people, the Biden administration has taken…
The Role Youth and Young Adults Play in Mental Health Legislation
In 2020, the Arizona State Legislature passed Jake’s Law, a multi-faceted piece of legislation aimed at increasing access to behavioral health services (including mental healthcare) in schools, improving mental health parity in health insurance, and reevaluating the state of youth mental health in the state of Arizona. This included the establishment of an $8,000,000 fund…
Mental Health Care Is Expensive: A Guide to Finding Affordable Services
The mission of Active Minds is centered around mobilizing youth and young adults to be the mental health change in their schools and communities. In my ten years at the organization, I have seen the power of grassroots advocacy in improving mental health culture nationwide — but I’ve also seen the toll it can take…
Three Ways to Support Transgender People’s Mental Health During Difficult Times
As a transgender man, Transgender Day of Remembrance is a day that’s near and dear to my heart. For most transgender and gender non-conforming youth, it is one of the ways we honor our elders, peers, and history, even if we cannot come out. In 2023, we are honoring the 19 transgender and non-binary siblings…
Your Voice is Your Power… So Start Telling Your Story
Self-advocacy is a powerful tool, especially as we navigate a world with systems that are not structured to serve us. To me, as an immigrant, queer Latina, it is important to understand all of the factors that have played into my mental well-being. Growing up in a Hispanic household where mental health was not talked…
Commemorating and Advocating for Veterans’ Mental Health
As we approach another Veterans Day, I find myself reflecting on the commitment we owe to our military personnel and veterans. Working as the policy manager at Active Minds, the importance of mental health advocacy is prominent, especially for those who’ve served our nation. Two transformative policies that have the power to greatly support veterans’…
Active Minds is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization promoting mental health awareness and education for young adults.