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Policy & Legislation Efforts

Building a Mental Health Movement for the Future

Youth Voice, Real Change

The time is now for teens and young adults to activate and improve mental health in America.

As Active Minds looks to the next four years, we are calling youth and young adults and our supporters to leadership for federal advocacy.

Our goals are clear: pass laws that help to prevent, early intervene, and improve teens and young adults’ mental health and build a movement that elevates policy solutions from student bodies to the highest levels of capacity and influence.

Get Involved: Learn About Federal & State Legislative Efforts with Active Minds

Join a meeting to learn about upcoming federal and state legislative efforts and how you can get involved with Active Minds and our partners

Our Legislative Asks

The time is now for teens and young adults to activate and improve mental health in America. As Active Minds looks to the next four years, we are calling youth and young adults and our supporters to leadership for federal advocacy. Our goals are clear: pass laws that help to prevent, early intervene, and improve teens and young adults’ mental health and build a movement that elevates policy solutions from student bodies to the highest levels of capacity and influence.

In 2025, Active Minds will pursue two bipartisan legislative asks:

  1. Increase awareness of 9-8-8 services and school mental health resources through publication on student ID cards or related school-wide awareness opportunities.
    Originally proposed by Active Minds members, this legislation would ensure students know what mental health resources and referral systems are available to them when they or a friend are in crisis. Too often students go through crisis alone, this legislative fix would place life-saving information within reach.
  2. Pass laws for federally funded youth mental health supports implemented by young people themselves.
    Youth-led mental health support and education, like Active Minds chapters and A.S.K., build healthy school campuses – yet these exact programs are currently excluded from federal funding. This legislation would establish Congressional precedent for funding youth-centered mental health supports in high schools, colleges, and trade and career schools.
Will you join us?

For more than twenty years, Active Minds has led a movement to demystify and destigmatize mental health for youth and young adults. Today, thousands of students across hundreds of chapters are part of the largest network of teens and young adults engaged in mental health support and advocacy in the country. But there’s much more to do and no time to waste.

Share Your Story: Why Is This Important To You?

Share Your Story

Whether you or someone you know has struggled with mental health, sharing those experiences can inspire others to speak up and take action. Record a short video sharing your story to support Active Minds’ legislative goals.

Amplify the Message

Help us spread the word about these important legislative changes! Use our Policy Action Toolkit to share your mental health journey, why these changes matter to you, and how youth leadership is key to making them happen.

Are You an Active Minds Chapter or Other Student Organization?

Join the Active Minds Chapters and student organizations who have formally endorsed Active Minds’ policy agenda.

Email our team at policy@activeminds.org to add your student organization’s name to the list:

  • Active Minds at Bristol Plymouth Regional Technical School (MA)
  • Active Minds at Carencro High School (LA)
  • Active Minds at Cypress College (CA)
  • Active Minds at Drexel University (PA)
  • Active Minds at East Providence High School (RI)
  • Active Minds at Florida State University (FL)
  • Active Minds at Inglemoor High School (WA)
  • Active Minds at Lackawanna College (PA)
  • Active Minds at Medfield High School (MA)
  • Active Minds at New York University (NY)
  • Active Minds at Northampton Community College (PA)
  • Active Minds at Oakland University (MI)
  • Active Minds at Ohio Dominican University (OH)
  • Active Minds at Palmer High School (AK)
  • Active Minds at Rider University (NJ)
  • Active Minds at Rollins College (FL)
  • Active Minds at San Diego State University (CA)
  • Active Minds at University of Florida (FL)
  • Active Minds at University of Manitoba (Canada)