Prevention & Awareness – Active Minds Blog

EXPECTO PATRONUM! A Spell or a mantra?

July 18, 2017Pablo Campos

Ever since being introduced to the Harry Potter books in elementary school I’ve felt a strong connection to the magical world that has taken me beyond that which I sometimes feel with my real life acquaintances. Attending book and movie releases helped me have something to look forward to, the characters’ growth something to guide…

Krystal Murillo’s Legacy at Mt. San Jacinto is Set

June 30, 2017Maggie Bertram

Krystal Murillo is a student and Active Minds Chapter Member at Mount San Jacinto College in Menifee, California. Over the last year, Krystal has been successful in advocating for the addition of a health center to her campus. In the post below, we feature excerpts of a conversation between Krystal and Active Minds Associate Director…

The Connection We Aren’t Talking About

June 28, 2017Maddie Schwarz

I was on Facebook when I stumbled across the video of a news clip that recently aired in the UK. It was an interview with the mother of Lily-Anna Winter, a thirteen-year old girl who died by suicide in May of 2017. Although I did not know Lily-Anna or her family, this was the type…

What Mental Health Month Means to Us

May 5, 2017Maggie Bertram

If you’re reading this blog right now, then you are probably on at least one mental health organization’s email list and have been receiving reminders that May is Mental Health Month. Now, let’s step back. How great is this? A topic so many people avoid talking about, avoid thinking about, avoid caring about takes center stage…

Racism is Making Us Sick

May 5, 2017Laura Horne

Help and hope are available. Over the last 14 years, Active Minds has empowered students facing mental health struggles to share their stories to let others know they’re not alone and to spread that message: help and hope are available. During my time as a member of the Active Minds team, I’ve come to recognize…

Did You Hear about the Rose that Grew from Concrete?

May 3, 2017May 3, 2017Janae David

“Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete? Provin Nature’s laws wrong it learned how to walk without Havin feet Funny it seems but, by keepin its dreams It, learned to breathe FRESH air Long live the rose that grew from concrete When no one else even cared No…

Borderline Personality Disorder Month: Practicing Compassion

May 1, 2017May 1, 2017Stacy Pershall

Stacy is a member of the Active Minds Speakers Bureau. Bring her to your campus to speak about mental health. Of all the quotes I saw in the wake of Prince’s death — and I’m a Prince fan to the core — this is the most beautiful and resonant to me: “Compassion is an action…

About Chris Gethard’s HBO Special: Career Suicide

May 1, 2017May 2, 2017Active Minds Staff

HBO is airing a new comedy special called Chris Gethard: Career Suicide on Saturday, May 6. Active Minds is proud to serve as a resource for his first HBO comedy special. Many years ago Chris was a speaker at Active Minds’ national conference! Chris is a (wry, funny, makes-you-laugh-just-looking-at-him) comedian who talks about his own personal…

An Open Letter to the Creators of S-Town

April 21, 2017Active Minds Staff

Dear Brian Reed, Julie Snyder, and the production team of S-Town, First of all, thank you for yet another outstanding podcast series. I found S-Town to be an engaging, emotionally poignant story that challenges stereotypes and evokes critical thought. At the moment that I was listening, I was traveling the state of California, training hundreds…

Tune in For Laughs: Staff Picks

April 19, 2017Maggie Bertram

Stress management is important, and we here at the Active Minds National Office have a bunch of different ways we prioritize it. Some of us like to go to the gym, take walks, meditate, do yoga, hang out with friends, go hear live music, cook, bake, or toss stress balls at each other from across…