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Landmark Study

Research confirms that Active Minds positively impacts student health and well-being.

We’re making a significant impact on student mental health and well-being

Research from a landmark study by the RAND Corporation confirms what we’ve always found to be true — that Active Minds has a significant, positive impact on student health and well-being by creating a supportive climate for mental health on college campuses.

Young people know best what they need, and we provide it.

The results of the longitudinal study of more than 1,100 students at twelve colleges are published in the peer-reviewed Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (July 2018) in an article titled “Strengthening College Students’ Mental Health Knowledge, Awareness, and Helping Behaviors: The Impact of Active Minds, a Peer Mental Health Organization.”

Highlights from the research

This groundbreaking research underscores how Active Minds — pioneered two decades ago and now with a presence on more than 650 campuses — provides a working model for improving student mental health.

  • As students become more involved with Active Minds, they are more likely to reach out to a classmate or friend who is struggling with mental health issues including depression, anxiety, or suicidal ideations
  • Among the general student body, knowledge and positive attitudes about mental health increase as a result of an Active Minds presence, creating a more supportive campus climate and increasing the potential that students will seek mental health services when needed
  • Active Minds’ education programs meaningfully influence not only students’ knowledge and attitudes toward mental health issues, but also their behaviors
  • The impact is swift — knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors examined in the study positively changed within a single academic year

Every student deserves to benefit from Active Minds

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What does this mean for you?

With the results of the RAND study confirming the effectiveness of our approach, we feel a strong obligation to give as many students as possible — as soon as possible — access to Active Minds’ uniquely effective, peer-to-peer model. Now more than ever, we need to ensure every student has the opportunity to benefit from Active Minds. Here are some ways to help us do that.

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