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October 27, 2026 — We are so excited to recognize October’s Chapter of the Month is San Diego State University! SDSU is dedicated to creating inclusive environments in their community by embracing culture and leading mental health outreach through a collaborative lens. We are so grateful to SDSU for their commitment to fighting mental health stigma. Introduce your chapter, including when your chapter was founded + the approximate number of members. We are the SDSU Chapter of Active Minds, based in San Diego, California! Founded in 2013, we partner with SDSU’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) to destigmatize mental health conversations and promote awareness of resources available to our campus community. Depending on availability, our general body meetings and social events typically attract 20–30 members, with many more students engaging with us through our campus tabling and outreach efforts. Tell us about your school and chapter. SDSU is home to a diverse community of students and faculty, providing our chapter with a unique opportunity to highlight a wide range of cultural perspectives on mental health. Some of our favorite events are those that celebrate the individuality of our members and campus community, such as our “Embracing Culture” outreach and collaborations with cultural resource centers on campus. Share something your chapter has done recently that you are proud of. Our chapter has an annual tradition of hosting a Suicide Prevention and Awareness outreach each September in honor of Suicide Prevention Month. This year, we hosted a candlelight event featuring more than 100 student-created lanterns decorated with encouraging messages, lining the main walkway on campus. Each year, we are blown away by our community’s enthusiasm for destigmatizing mental health and its willingness to come together to foster a healthier, more supportive campus culture. Why is mental health important to your chapter and school? San Diego is home to many underserved communities, including our immigrant student and faculty community. Our chapter has witnessed firsthand how raising awareness of available resources can make a meaningful difference in encouraging students to seek support, especially those who may otherwise face barriers to accessing mental health care. Through SDSU’s Counseling and Psychological Services, students can access free short-term therapy covered by their tuition. Ensuring our student body has the tools and information to find support in a way that feels accessible and comfortable is central to our mission! How is your chapter making a difference on campus? By creating a welcoming and peer-centered space for mental health advocacy on campus, our chapter helps make conversations that may have once felt taboo or intimidating more approachable. It’s our priority to maintain a welcoming environment where everyone feels comfortable participating in whatever way works for them– whether that’s taking a positive sticky note as they pass our table or joining our leadership team to help our chapter grow for years to come. What advice would you give to someone thinking about joining or starting a chapter? Having strong relationships and a supportive culture within your chapter are some of the most impactful tools for success! Potential new members and others in your community will quickly pick up on the overall “vibe” of your chapter and be more likely to engage when interactions between members reflect the same warmth we strive to offer those interested in conversations about mental health. Hosting social events or fostering fun ways for members to connect can be productive too! What is a mental health mantra your chapter lives by? “You are worthy of care and connection. Everyone deserves the opportunity for mental wellbeing.” What do you wish more people knew about student mental health? Student mental health often extends beyond the individual level. Campus culture and conversations surrounding mental health intersect with the broader challenges young people face, creating unique and complex needs within the student population. Working to destigmatize mental health in the environments where students spend their time can be just as important as providing individual support and resources.We are so excited to recognize October’s Chapter of the Month is San Diego State University! SDSU is dedicated to creating inclusive environments in their community by embracing culture and leading mental health outreach through a collaborative lens. We are so grateful to SDSU for their commitment to fighting mental health stigma. Introduce your chapter, including when your chapter was founded + the approximate number of members. We are the SDSU Chapter of Active Minds, based in San Diego, California! Founded in 2013, we partner with SDSU’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) to destigmatize mental health conversations and promote awareness of resources available to our campus community. Depending on availability, our general body meetings and social events typically attract 20–30 members, with many more students engaging with us through our campus tabling and outreach efforts. Tell us about your school and chapter. SDSU is home to a diverse community of students and faculty, providing our chapter with a unique opportunity to highlight a wide range of cultural perspectives on mental health. Some of our favorite events are those that celebrate the individuality of our members and campus community, such as our “Embracing Culture” outreach and collaborations with cultural resource centers on campus. Share something your chapter has done recently that you are proud of. Our chapter has an annual tradition of hosting a Suicide Prevention and Awareness outreach each September in honor of Suicide Prevention Month. This year, we hosted a candlelight event featuring more than 100 student-created lanterns decorated with encouraging messages, lining the main walkway on campus. Each year, we are blown away by our community’s enthusiasm for destigmatizing mental health and its willingness to come together to foster a healthier, more supportive campus culture. Why is mental health important to your chapter and school? San Diego is home to many underserved communities, including our immigrant student and faculty community. Our chapter has witnessed firsthand how raising awareness of available resources can make a meaningful difference in encouraging students to seek support, especially those who may otherwise face barriers to accessing mental health care. Through SDSU’s Counseling and Psychological Services, students can access free short-term therapy covered by their tuition. Ensuring our student body has the tools and information to find support in a way that feels accessible and comfortable is central to our mission! . How is your chapter making a difference on campus? By creating a welcoming and peer-centered space for mental health advocacy on campus, our chapter helps make conversations that may have once felt taboo or intimidating more approachable. It’s our priority to maintain a welcoming environment where everyone feels comfortable participating in whatever way works for them– whether that’s taking a positive sticky note as they pass our table or joining our leadership team to help our chapter grow for years to come. What advice would you give to someone thinking about joining or starting a chapter? Having strong relationships and a supportive culture within your chapter are some of the most impactful tools for success! Potential new members and others in your community will quickly pick up on the overall “vibe” of your chapter and be more likely to engage when interactions between members reflect the same warmth we strive to offer those interested in conversations about mental health. Hosting social events or fostering fun ways for members to connect can be productive too! What is a mental health mantra your chapter lives by? “You are worthy of care and connection. Everyone deserves the opportunity for mental wellbeing.” What do you wish more people knew about student mental health? Student mental health often extends beyond the individual level. Campus culture and conversations surrounding mental health intersect with the broader challenges young people face, creating unique and complex needs within the student population. Working to destigmatize mental health in the environments where students spend their time can be just as important as providing individual support and resources.

October 14, 2026 — Grief hit me like a wave that never went back out to sea. There were mornings I didn't want to get out of bed. Nights I wondered why I was still here when they weren't.

October 14, 2026 — The Active Minds Student Advisory Committee (SAC) is made up of young adult leaders who represent the Active Minds student voice nationally through media and other student forums. They also advise Active Minds national staff on student engagement, community building, program planning, Chapter engagement and management, National Conference planning, and program promotion. Powered by youth and young adults, the SAC is an integral part of the mental health work being done by thousands of Gen Z activists across the country. We’re excited for you to “meet” our 2026-2027 Student Advisory Committee cohort below. Kailani Goggans (she/her) is a student at Salem College studying Psychological Science & Public Health. She is deeply passionate about community care, advocacy, and wellness. On campus, she serves as President of Active Minds Salem College, Students for Reproductive Freedom, & Siblings Demand Justice. Through her work, she supports, educates, and inspires her peers to get involved in their community and use their voices. Kailani's academic and professional interests include attending medical school and obtaining her MD & master's in public health to bridge medical practice with community policy and action. In her free time, she enjoys indoor cycling, playing with her animals, and playing video games Dionisio (Dio) Taitano-Samora (he/they) is a student at Colorado State University Pueblo majoring in Public Health with minors in Spanish and Leadership Studies. He strives to utilize his experience as a first-generation Chicano-CHamoru student and his background with advocacy organizations, such as Young Invincibles and The Hub for Youth Centered Engagement, to create a more just education system for students of color. As of now, he also serves on Young Invincibles’ Youth Advisory Board for Colorado to advance policies that support young adults' mental health, access to healthcare, and the workforce. In the future, he aims to conduct research on access to STEM education and its connection to public health to advocate for health equity. Outside of academics, he enjoys hiking, trying new recipes, and language learning. Rhea Makkuni (she/her) is a student at Johns Hopkins University studying Molecular and Cellular Biology and Computer Science. She conducts research in the PALS Lab at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, applying artificial intelligence to the study of mood disorders. On campus, she serves as President of the Johns Hopkins chapter of Active Minds, where she leads local, community-based mental-health efforts that offer insight into global mental-health challenges, including limited continuity of care, fragmented systems, stigma, and barriers to navigating available resources. In her free time, Rhea enjoys biking, chatting nonstop with her friends, singing, and dancing! Amy Senkerik (she/her) is a student at Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University, majoring in Biological Science and in Global Health with a certificate in Evolutionary Medicine. She is deeply passionate about advocacy, suicide prevention, mental health, and public health. On campus, she works closely with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and on the outreach team for ASU’s Counseling Services. Last year, she was in the Active Minds Mental Health Advocacy Institute and spoke at the Active Minds Congressional Briefing in May. In addition to mental health advocacy, she leads the Refugee Education and Clinic Team, works as an Emergency Medical Technician, and conducts cancer-neuroscience research at the Mayo Clinic and Cedars-Sinai. She has interned at Harvard Medical School and as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Toronto in summer research programs. Amy has a passion for advocacy across individual, community, and systemic levels and hopes to work as a physician at the intersection of mental health, research, clinical practice, and policy. In her free time, Amy likes to run, rock climb, travel, and spend time with her loved ones. She ran the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon and has studied global health abroad in Australia. Arjun Nair (he/him) is a student at Virginia Commonwealth University studying Biology in the Guaranteed Medical Admissions Program. He serves as President of Active Minds at VCU, where he works to reduce stigma surrounding mental health, introduce students to self-care practices, and strengthen student engagement in mental health advocacy. Professionally, Arjun is interested in advancing compassionate care and support for people with substance use disorders, as well as HIV prevention within substance use treatment settings. He currently serves on the Student Advisory Board of the American Academy of HIV Medicine and is involved in research examining substance use, behavioral health, and access to HIV prevention and care. As a member of the Active Minds National Student Board, Arjun hopes to strengthen connections among campus chapters and empower youth and young adults to become mental health champions in their own communities. Ivanna Sintes-Klein (she/her) is a student at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in Health Promotion and Behavioral Science with a minor in Health Communication. She is deeply passionate about mental health, leadership, health advocacy, and creating communities where people feel supported, heard, and empowered. At UT Austin, she is the Chapter Founder and President of Teddy Bear Hospital USA at UT, a national non-profit that uses play to help children ease the anxiety that's associated with going to the doctor while promoting health education and empathy. She also serves as a Longhorn SHARE Support Specialist, where she leads a community centered around the belief that we do not have to carry the burdens of others alone, while completing training in peer support, mental health first aid, and connecting students with resources. Ivanna was also appointed through UT Student Government as a Student Government representative on the Student Health Advisory Committee, where she is excited to contribute a student perspective to conversations surrounding campus health and mental health. Before transferring to UT Austin, Ivanna attended Texas State University, where she founded and led Bobcat C.A.R.E. (Creating Awareness, Resiliency, and Empowerment), the first mental health advocacy organization, which was named Organization of the Year during her time as President. Through these experiences, she has developed a strong passion for making mental health support more accessible and creating spaces where students feel comfortable asking for help. In her free time, she loves to play pool and write poetry.  If you have any questions about how you can work with your community’s representative in taking action for mental health, please contact chapters@activeminds.org.

September 22, 2026 — Trigger Warning: Themes of Suicide I remember being annoyed at my brother for not being more enthusiastic about Christmas. It was late in the evening, and my mom was already in bed as my dad asked us to stop fighting. I was frustrated that he intervened, we weren’t arguing just bickering.

September 22, 2026 — Back to school can be hard for parents and guardians of youth and young adults trying to get back into routine after three months of laissez faire curfews and late night movie based bedtimes.

September 14, 2026 — Hi! We are Active Minds at Virginia Commonwealth University. We have been supporting VCU students’ mental health and wellbeing since 2015, and have thirty members.

September 14, 2026 — “When you’re falling in Dupont and there’s nobody around, did you ever even crash or even make a sound?” – note on the Dupont Memorial tree, September 2026.

August 25, 2026 — Be a high schooler who makes change in their community by joining the Active Minds Mental Health Advocacy Academy (the Academy) and taking your advocacy offline.

August 25, 2026 — The air is getting crisper, the song of the summer’s being phased out of your playlists, and your favorite local coffee shop just reintroduced their pumpkin spice latte and cardamom chai.

August 11, 2026 — I spent the last year interviewing neurodivergent people of color about what happens when they walk into a therapist's office. One line has stayed with me since.

August 11, 2026 — Every single hour, loneliness is linked to nearly a hundred deaths. Not metaphorical deaths. Not "dying inside", or the kind people joke about in group chats.

July 26, 2026 — Walking across UCLA’s commencement stage, I carried more than a degree. I carried proof that I was still here. My Bachelor’s degree reflected more than lectures attended, exams taken, and sleepless nights.