With mental health being so prevalent in today’s world, it is important for students to become educated on the topic. Active Minds is an organization that was founded at Kean to do just that.
Founded in the fall semester of 2018, Active Minds aims to spread mental health awareness among college students. They do this on a peer-to-peer level to create a community that accepts and understands individuals
Many people are not willing or comfortable with speaking about their mental health because they feel as if they are alone. There is still a lot of stigma surrounding this topic, which Active Minds aims to reduce. This organization is here to encourage students to be more comfortable speaking about any mental health issues they may face.
President Sierra James said, “We want to continue the conversation of mental health at Kean, and let our Kean community know that their mental health matters and that they are not alone in their struggles.”
Active Minds pride themselves on being a safe and open space for the Kean community to discuss mental health. As an organization, they educate their members on various mental illnesses and provide their members with support.
Some of the topics that they discuss and educate their members on include suicide prevention, eating disorders, depression and bipolar disorder. In addition, they touch on topics such as schizophrenia, post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders and more.
They always remind their members that, while they are a safe space, they do not offer any clinical healthcare. They do, however, act as a liaison between the Kean community and Counseling Services, who does have the tools, resources and knowledge to clinically help.
James said, “Active Minds at Kean means the world to me. As a mental health advocate and a person with lived experience of mental illness, I am so glad that I could help provide a safe space to discuss mental health.”
She continued, “Mental illness is heavily stigmatized and mental health crises have increased this year. I find it extremely important to discuss mental health, stigma, mental health resources [and more] as college students. Not everyone feels comfortable or ready to seek help for their mental health, so, if Active Minds can help others to realize that mental health treatment is absolutely okay and valid, that is one of the best things we can do.”
Active Minds is hosting many virtual general body meetings this semester, all occurring at 3:30 p.m. on the following dates:
Monday, Oct. 12
Monday, Oct. 26
Monday, Nov. 9
Monday, Nov. 23
Monday, Dec. 7
For more information on Active Minds at Kean University and their events, be sure to check out their Cougar Link page and follow them on Instagram @activeminds.kean.
