Student Stories
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…
Living With OCD: Breaking the Cycle
I am living with excoriation disorder, a form of OCD, and I have for as long as I can remember. I always thought that the constant skin picking on my hands was just a nervous tick – until I did some research on mental illness. My symptoms matched every single one listed for excoriation disorder,…
The Importance of LGBTQ+ Representation in Mental Health
Two of the things I am most passionate about are mental health advocacy and LGBTQ+ rights. Both of these are parts of my identity I hold dear to my heart, and I believe that for me at least, they are extremely connected. Discovering my sexuality was a journey, like it is for many people, with…
What My Depression Diagnosis Means for My Mental Health Journey
As a 17-year-old high school student, I never understood why all my peers were seemingly so happy and filled with joy whenever they came to school, but I wasn’t. While my classmates were going out to football games with their friends, I stayed home and analyzed what was wrong with me. “Why can’t I make…
Sharing Hope During Suicide Prevention Month
Content Warning: Mention of suicide attempts and suicidal ideation. The world needs you here because…well, why? For those living with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health disorders, the answer can sometimes feel unclear. And in a time when racism, transphobia, homophobia, antisemitism, and ableism continue to persist, I know firsthand how hard it can…
Active Minds is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization promoting mental health awareness and education for young adults.