When Alison Malmon founded Active Minds in 2003, she initiated a ripple effect of change that continues to expand over two decades later. By using her voice to break the silence surrounding mental health, she created a space where thousands of students could eventually find their own footing, find their community, and find their power to mobilize around mental health. My story is just one example of that ripple effect in action, turning a moment of personal need into a lifelong purpose of leading the mental health movement.
My Journey From Mental Health Advocate to Mental Health Professional
My advocacy journey truly began in my freshman year of college. I come from a background where mental health was stigmatized and rarely discussed. But the independence of college offered me the autonomy to explore what I was feeling and address my mental health. As I navigated my own struggles, I realized two things: culturally competent care was hard to find, and there were absolutely no student organizations dedicated to mental health on my campus. Rather than discouraging me, these gaps fueled a desire not only to understand my own needs but also to create that space for others. This was the start of my transition to becoming informed — realizing I had the control to educate myself and the passion to ensure no one else had to face those barriers alone.
That awareness transformed into action during my sophomore year when I discovered an emerging Active Minds Chapter on my campus. I was scared, but I worked up the courage to speak with the organizers and get involved, and that choice launched me into mental health mobilization work that defined my college experience. Before I knew it, my engagement deepened as I became a member of my chapter’s executive team, later becoming President, where I realized the true impact of our work. We built such a strong reputation as a safe space that other student organizations, including Greek life, started coming to us to collaborate. That was the moment I realized I had become a mental health champion, and that our advocacy was reshaping the culture on my campus and in my community.
Today, I have moved from a student leader to a mental health professional. In my full-time role at a mental health nonprofit, I now have the privilege of supporting young mental health advocates through programming that guides students through their own mobilization journeys. My work is no longer centered on my own advocacy, but on building the infrastructure for others to find theirs.
Just as Active Minds created a space that allowed me to grow, I now work every day to create those same spaces for the next generation of mental health advocates. By giving the students we support today the resources and confidence to become the changemakers of tomorrow, we are sustaining a movement much bigger than any of our individual efforts.
Want To Take the Next Step on Your Mental Health Advocacy Journey?
You don’t have to be an expert to make a difference — you just have to be brave enough to start. Check out three ways you can get involved with Active Minds:
- Create a safe space for your peers to discuss mental health by starting an Active Minds chapter at your school.
- Apply for programs like the Mental Health Advocacy Academy and the Active Minds Institute and implement a mental health project in your community.
- Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest webinars, engagement opportunities, and mental health resources sent directly to your inbox.
