General

October 14, 2022 — 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, […]

October 13, 2022 — More and more, we are seeing recent global and national climate disasters affect communities and individuals. From the most recent hurricanes, to the wildfires in California, and flooding in Pakistan, we are aware of the impact on mental health that these disasters can have. Whatever you are feeling because of these events is okay, and […]

October 11, 2022 — 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 […]

October 10, 2022 — When I was younger, I believed mental health was exclusive. Only those with severe, visible problems have mental health needs. Only later did I learn that everyone has mental health, and unfortunately, many of us will have to navigate the negative side of it. It is only human, right? When my Mvskoke mother was a […]

October 7, 2022 — Content Warning: Mention of suicide attempts and suicidal ideation. When I was 16, I was with a family member when they attempted suicide. I had to go with them to the emergency room, where they received treatment and thankfully, survived. It was kept very quiet in my family. My parents are divorced and one of […]

October 6, 2022 — 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 […]

October 3, 2022 — As we kick off Mental Illness Awareness Week, you may be hearing more about mental health on social media, in the news, and among your friends and family, including various types of mental illnesses. This can unfortunately often include some of the many misconceptions related to mental health that persist in our society. As we […]

September 30, 2022 — 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 […]

September 29, 2022 — Content Warning: This piece contains mentions of suicide. Welcome to our awesome group of Active Minds interns! We’re so excited to work with them to continue changing the conversation around mental health. Diya Basu 1. Where are you from? I’m from Sammamish, WA (30 minutes outside Seattle). 2. Where do you go to school and […]

September 27, 2022 — Imagine coming home to your mom and asking her to do something you know she would never let you do, but you still ask. You feel that knot in your stomach, and your voice starts to quiver. Growing up, this is how I – and many other Hispanic children and young adults I knew – […]