Active Minds, Inc.

Register for conference today and this could be you! ? Join us for the 2025 Active Minds Mental Health Conference, the nation’s largest gathering of young adult mental health advocates! ?? Connect with hundreds of passionate changemakers, hear from exceptional speakers, and explore innovative ways to transform mental health on campuses, in schools, and beyond. If you sign up by April 30th you’ll receive a $50 discount. ?? Register now at the ?? in bio! Will we see you there? ??

Last Saturday, the UCF Chapter of Active Minds, Inc. had the honor of hosting the first Out of the Darkness Campus Walk at UCF in years in collaboration with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Central Florida Chapter, UCF Police Department, UCF Counseling and Psychological Services, UCF Student Government, and UCF RESTORES. As a community, we reached over 400 participants and raised over $18,000 for suicide prevention. Representing my fellow UCF students as Student Director of this walk has been such an honor. I could not have done this without the support of my Active Minds OOTDW team, Aidan Maroney, our Student Volunteer Director, and Eli Olson, our Student Outreach Director. It has been a privilege to work with so many leaders and mental health advocates in Central Florida. A special thank you to Chief?Carl Metzger?for entrusting our student organization to make this idea a reality and Deputy Chief?Robin Griffin-Kitzerow?for leading the charge to bring it to life! Thank you to every person who supported this walk by dedicating their time, money, or attention. I am overwhelmed with joy and gratitude from seeing our community come together for this meaningful cause. Together, we can stop suicide.

This is your reminder that Early Bird Registration is open! ?? Join us at the 2025 Active Minds Mental Health Conference, the nation’s largest gathering of youth and young adult mental health advocates! ? Connect with hundreds of passionate changemakers, hear from exceptional speakers, and explore innovative ways to transform mental health on campuses, in schools, and beyond. Register by April 30th to lock in your discounted rate! Don’t miss this chance to be part of the mental health movement. Sign up now: https://lnkd.in/g77WqTKV

Last week, Active Minds at Albany State University, in collaboration with Chegg Inc. for Student Mental Health Week, hosted the In It Together Panel & Mixer. An event that embodied what it means to support student mental health. The panel opened with a powerful yet vulnerable moment as Lashanda Parker M.S., Chapter Advisor, shared her personal journey with adversity and mental health. Through a poetic performance, students brought her story to life, setting the tone for an evening filled with connection and empowerment. The presence of campus leaders demonstrated the university’s commitment to mental wellness. Among them: ??Dr. Nicole Bradley, LMFT, who has fostered a culture of mental health support on campus. ??University administrators and faculty, showing up as advocates for student well-being. ??Community leaders, including a local pastor and the Head of Albany Police, reinforcing that mental health is important to the community as a whole. The night ended with a speech from the President of Albany State University, followed by a mixer where students, faculty, and community members continued the conversation in a more personal setting. This event was a testament to the power of storytelling, support, and community, especially on an HBCU campus. We’re grateful for the chapter leadership of Lashanda Parker, M.S., and Toderick Devoe, M.Ed., who continue to champion mental health advocacy through Active Minds. A huge thank you to Chegg Inc. for making Student Mental Health Week possible and for amplifying the message that no one should navigate mental health ?

Active Minds is now accepting applications for our Summer 2025 semester! Our interns will have the opportunity to do substantive work, gain experience in the nonprofit sector, and help champion a new era of mental health. Geared toward current college students and recent college graduates, the Summer 2025 internship applications will close on Friday, March 14, 2025. Apply today or share with someone who could become our next Active Minds intern! https://lnkd.in/ea_q9WGX

On #TeenMentalWellnessDay, we’re recognizing the importance of support and understand for young people.?? That’s where the Active Minds High School Advisory Board comes in. These incredible students are driving change, shaping resources, creating outreach strategies, and championing mental health support, with a focus on BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth. ? If you’re a teen and want to make a difference in mental wellness at your school or in your community, tap the link to learn more ?? https://bit.ly/4kjI7JM

Active Minds is now accepting applications for our Summer 2025 semester! Our interns will have the opportunity to do substantive work, gain experience in the nonprofit sector, and help champion a new era of mental health. Geared toward current college students and recent college graduates, the Summer 2025 internship applications will close on Friday, March 14, 2025. Apply today or share with someone who could become our next Active Minds intern! https://lnkd.in/ea_q9WGX

We are proud to share that our impactful Send Silence Packing exhibit was recently featured in an article by WNEM. The article highlighted its meaningful presence at Saginaw Valley State University, where 100 backpacks, each representing a life lost to suicide, sparked crucial conversations about mental health and suicide prevention. Eric Rockwood, Program Associate with Active Minds, shared, "We want you to feel comfortable talking about your feelings and understanding that these feelings are valid. It’s OK to feel them, but there are people professionally trained to help you talk and get you through them." Read more about this powerful exhibit and the conversations it’s starting about mental health and suicide prevention:?https://lnkd.in/e3HfkNYm

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, 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. We’re taking big steps in 2025 to change the future of mental health, and we need your voice, your story, and your support to make it happen. See our full Policy Agenda and get involved today: https://bit.ly/3CSGBxo #YouthVoicesRealChange

Looking to make mental health advocacy more than a passion? ? Cause and Career is a hub for career exploration, job opportunities, and mentorship. Whether you’re just starting out or switching paths, we’re here to help you create lasting change. ?? Get started ?? https://bit.ly/3TitNWi