Advocacy & Awareness
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 anniversary 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…
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…
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…
Former Active Minds Mental Health Advocacy Academy students reflect on their experiences
The Active Minds Mental Health Advocacy (Academy) is a leadership development and mental health advocacy program that equips BIPOC and LGBTQ+ high school students to address mental health-related issues and affect change in their schools, communities, and states. Recently, four alumni from the Active Minds Mental Health Advocacy Academy told us about their experiences and…
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…
Active Minds is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization promoting mental health awareness and education for young adults.