Active Minds:
Educating and Enlightening Young
Adults about Mental Health
Active Minds is an organization which appears on college campuses across America. It was founded by Alison Malmon who was inspired to fight mental health stigma after her brother committed suicide. She wanted to help people like her brother Brian, who suffer from mental health issues, not be afraid to get the help they need. Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder can and do affect everyone, even if it’s through a friend or family member. Young adults aged 18-24 have the highest prevalence of diagnosable forms of mental health disorders. This, along with the fact that suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students puts college campuses in great need of mental health awareness. One of the main goals of Active Minds is to fight the negative connotations surrounding mental health issues in order to make people more willing to get the help that they need. Active Minds is not a support group. The focus is creating awareness of campus resources, encouraging students to seek help and breaking down stigmas about mental health.
The chapter at UCSB began winter quarter 2008. Angela Andrade, coordinator of student mental health services and three mental health interns in the dean of students office began the outline for Active Minds UCSB. Karen Dawson, Gladys Manrique, and Austin McRobbie organized and led the first meetings as well as the election of the executive board of Active Minds. Led by President Marianne Clark the Active Minds officers are ready to make a difference on campus. The UCSB chapter is brand new, built from the ground up just this year and has already made great strides. Between networking with other organizations on campus, spreading the word about mental health issues in the summer orientation play, and developing great events, Active Minds is on the way to becoming a pillar on the UCSB campus and breaking down the stigmas too often associated with mental health.
McRobbie, one of the mental health interns, has kept the same motto from the first meeting, “When you’re sick you go to the doctor to get better. Mental health should be treated the same way.” Showing people their resources, fighting negative stigma, and increasing awareness brings us one step closer to helping students on campus to seek the help they need as casually as they would if they had a sinus infection. Everyone on the Active Minds executive board is excited to be a part of the organization and is ready to make a difference.
Possible Active Minds events for spring 2008 include depression screening day and/or movie nights (showing a film such as “A Beautiful Mind” or “One Flew over the Cukoo’s Nest” which brings up mental health, and offering coffee, refreshments, and a discussion afterwards). In the future, Active Minds is interested in organizing a 5/10 K “Stomp Out Stigma” fun run, mental health awareness events and guest speakers. We look forward to getting everyone on campus involved, exploring new ideas and meeting people who are as passionate as we are about making our campus a better place. If you’d like to get involved, just drop us a line.
Erin Paulsen
Outreach Chair
Erin_paulsen@umail.ucsb.edu
Marianne Clark
President
smilesaresuper06@yahoo.com
National website: http://www.activemindsoncampus.org/
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