Why is the group that you chose to research important?

I chose to investigate Active Minds because it is a nonprofit organization that promotes mental health especially among young adults. In fact, many mental health illnesses begin between the ages of fourteen and twenty-four which is when teens and young adults are in school. Additionally, suicide is found to be the second leading cause for youth and young adults. According to statistics, one of every five students lives with a mental health condition, but stigma and shame often prevent them from reaching out. Creating an open culture on campus in which young people begin voicing these mental issues will help fight against the stigma of mental illness, encourage students seek aid faster, and prevent future tragedies like suicide.

Brief history of the educational organization that you have researched along with the purpose of the organization?

Active Minds was founded by Alison Malmon in June of 2003, when she was a junior at the University of Pennsylvania following her older brother’s death by suicide. Alison realized that her brother’s story represented the story of thousands of young folks who suffer in silence who believed that they are absolutely alone. Alison hoped to change this silent culture on her campus by making her own student-to-student model and creating a student group which was then known as Open Minds. The group’s priority objective was to bring awareness that seeking help is a symbol of strength and not something one should be ashamed of.

Within a few years, a number of chapters continued to rise in numbers even after Alison graduated from college. Then from all over the country, Alison received fielding calls from students and administrators that desired to do something on their own campuses.

In Washington D.C., a national office was established and the new nonprofit organization including all its affiliated campus chapters were renamed as Active Minds as known today to reflect the organization’s focus on action and student advocacy in mental health.

Whom do they serve? Programs offered?

Active Minds impact countless young adults with mental health, directly reaching more than 1.9 million students annually through campus awareness campaigns, events, advocacy, outreach, on more than 600 campuses.

Apart from the 600+ strong National Chapter Network empowering student advocates, other programs this organization offers include Send Silence Packing^®, which is a suicide prevention exhibit; Active Minds Speakers, a group of professional storytellers and presenters who provide mental health education for students and other audiences; the Healthy Campus Award, honoring colleges that prioritize student health and well-being; and Active Minds @Work offerings to build a mental health culture in the workplace. 

Overall, Active Minds’ coherent message is that mental health must be talked about as easily as physical health then people will not have to struggle alone in their mental health and suicide as it is brought out in the open.

What could they do better?

Some areas of growth that this organization can improve on is having more personal stories of real-life experiences from people who got help from this organization readily visible on the main page of the website. Perhaps the site could have a section for monthly highlights of inspiring stories from both students and volunteers who would like to share life-changing experiences or encouraging notes to intrigue viewers better.

Was information about the organization accessible?

Yes, I could find a variety of information about the organization easily including who they are (their story, mission and impact, their team, partners, ambassadors, financials, news and media, careers and internships, blog), what they do (all their program information and policy changes), why it matters (statistics, signs and symptoms, depressions and bipolar, understanding anxiety, crisis information, self-care, offering help, referral resources, during treatment), and how to help (fundraiser, spirit week, donate, special events, national conference, alumni network).

What other organizations are doing similar work?

Here is another organization working to support this group of students. 

1. Free2Luv is a mental health organization that offers resources via peer-led education, referrals, and support for bullying prevention among youth.
2. The Jed Foundation (JED) is a nonprofit organization that help secure emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults in the nation, providing them the skills and support they need to thrive.

Resources

Firefly Partners. (2022, January 19). Changing the conversation about mental health. Active Minds. Retrieved February 1, 2022, from https://www.activeminds.org/

Wikimedia Foundation. (2022, January 31). Active Minds. Wikipedia. Retrieved February 1, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Minds