General

July 15, 2022 — During times of crisis, whether they be personal or what feels like entirely out of my control, I often find myself turning to social media. It allows me to connect with others, validate my feelings, and find ways to take action from wherever I am. However, it’s important to strike a balance – too much […]

July 14, 2022 — Throughout my college admissions process, I considered several factors when choosing a college: campus life, program opportunities, rank, location, class size, cost, and sports to name a few. While some of these elements would undoubtedly affect my mental health, I never directly questioned how my mental health would fit into the schools I was visiting, […]

July 12, 2022 — The mental health movement has strong foundations predating much of who and what we consider to be at the forefront of conversations today. Since 2008, BIPOC Mental Health Month has been a cornerstone of today’s national mental health efforts, elevating the conversation around Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities’ mental health.  Before being […]

July 1, 2022 — Doomscrolling: the tendency to continue to surf or scroll through bad news, even though that news is saddening, disheartening, or depressing. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there was likely at least one time you recognized yourself getting deeper and deeper into scary or upsetting news, but were unable to pull yourself away. That makes sense – […]

July 1, 2022 — The need for mental health research based on lived experiences of the communities most affected by health disparities is crucial. One of Active Minds’ longest-running programs, the Emerging Scholars Fellowship showcases the importance of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) voices in mental health research. We have long known that BIPOC young adults experience […]

June 27, 2022 — Content Warning: This piece contains mentions of suicide. Welcome to our amazing group of summer 2022 interns! We’re so excited to work with them to continue changing the conversation around mental health. Sofia Alvarez 1. Where are you from? I’m from Newark, DE. 2. Where do you (or did you) go to school? What do […]

June 23, 2022 — Throughout my life, I resided in many multi-cultural, under-resourced, and impoverished communities that exposed me to a multitude of systemic inequities that impacted my family and friends’ well-being and mental health. I too faced those inequities as a queer Latiné, and as I learned more about the systems in place that upheld those barriers, I […]

June 16, 2022 — The Mental Health Youth Action Forum, hosted for the first time in 2022 and taking place at the White House, was a time for the next generation of mental health advocates to gather and share their experiences, perspectives, and solutions regarding mental health. Jorge Alvarez, whose advocacy through social media and on-campus as an Active […]

June 16, 2022 — Content Warning: This piece contains mentions of suicide. Diana Chao, Active Minds Speaker, was one of a select group of young adult mental health leaders chosen to take part in the inaugural Mental Health Youth Action Forum at the White House. A first-generation Chinese-American immigrant and graduate of Princeton University, Diana has candidly spoken about […]

June 15, 2022 — Now more than ever, we’re seeing investments in mental health: from colleges and universities prioritizing the expansion of resources, to corporations supporting further research, to President Biden addressing the youth mental health crisis head-on at the State of the Union. As we continue to focus on mental health in the way it deserves, we must […]