Student Stories
How to Manage Loneliness During College from a Gen Z Graduate
Change is difficult and isolating. The transition from high school to college was no different. Leaving home and moving to a different state while experiencing a complete social reset certainly impacted how I understood mental health. When I started college, I did not prioritize mental health due to my simplistic understanding of it — I…
“Home is Where the Heart Is”: Protecting My Mental Health as a Third-Culture Kid
Before the age of 11, I traveled frequently between Kenya, my home country, and the United States. I also switched schools four times. At the time, I considered all of this constant change and movement to be normal. I rarely took the time to form strong friendships with those around me because I knew I’d…
Why I Advocate for Open Conversations and Culturally-Competent Care
“Log kya kahenge?”, which translates to “What will people say?” is a phrase often explicitly or implicitly brought up in conversation in response to individual actions or words that do not align with the cultural norms of the South Asian community. As a South Asian woman, I have observed that mental health is still viewed…
Five Ways to Support Transgender Students’ Mental Health
As a Transgender man, I’ve always noticed the many ways people convey their shock that I am a man before and during transition. It was just this morning that someone asked me, “You have a feminine voice, are you a girl?” and I had to “out” myself to feel affirmed. I remember being in an…
How to Get Involved in Mental Health Advocacy As a High School Student
Are you a high school student looking to become more involved in mental health advocacy in your community? Chances are, if you’re reading this, you fit this description or know someone who does. Well, allow me to tell you some amazing news: the Active Minds Mental Health Advocacy Academy is gearing up to take on…
Your Guide to Talking to Student Athletes About Mental Health
The relationship between physical and mental health is one that is becoming increasingly apparent — including among top-performing athletes. Professional athletes like Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka have made clear the impact their mental well-being has on their athletic performance, and we are better understanding how we can support student athletes in protecting their mental…
Unpacking the Relationship Between Reproductive Rights and Student Mental Health
Happy International Women’s Day to all the women who continue to stay strong and work hard to fight the injustice that clouds our reproductive rights. As a woman, mother of three, and student, I’d like to talk about the impact of recently proposed policies concerning reproductive freedom on student mental health and the importance of…
Addressing Disordered Eating on College Campuses
Content Warning: This piece contains mentions of disordered eating/eating disorders. Starting college can introduce a lot of new stressors in our daily lives, both expected and unexpected. You might be ready for long nights of studying, trouble making friends, or bouts of homesickness. However, what you might not expect is the impact that living on…
Your Guide to Creating Mental Health Communities at HBCUs
Our Active Minds Chapter at Morgan State University was definitely created out of necessity. Prior to the creation of the chapter at Morgan State – one of the nation’s historically Black universities (or HBCUs) – there were no student-led organizations dedicated to addressing mental health on campus. Close to the end of her freshman year,…
ADHD in Young Adults: My Symptoms and Journey to Diagnosis
I always loved learning and strived to be a high achiever. I did well in school, got along with others, and teachers seemed to like me. However, once I started college, there was a major shift. It became harder and harder for me to complete assignments on time. I felt I couldn’t reach out to…
Active Minds is the nation's premier nonprofit organization promoting mental health for young adults.