BACKGROUND
Active Minds is the only national mental health organization on college campuses which aims to eradicate the stigma of mental illness through increasing awareness and educating students. Alison Malmon is the founder of this organization. In 2000, toward the end of her first year of college, her older brother—who was also a college student—committed suicide. The stigma surrounding mental illness led him to hide his experience from others around him. Due to the shame surrounding individuals with a mental illness, Alison decided to take action and create an organization with various goals: to rid the stigma of mental illness, encourage students with a mental illness to seek help, and to prevent tragedies similar to that of her brother’s. Active Minds, Inc. was founded during Alison’s junior year of college. In 2003, the Active Minds, Inc. National headquarters was established in Washington, D.C. Currently, there are over 350 Active Minds chapters across the nation’s colleges. The chapters allow students to start the conversation about mental illness while providing professional resources. Campuses organize activities throughout the year to highlight the prevalence of mental health concerns (e.g., eating disorders, stress, anxiety, and suicide). Active Minds at Wright State University was established in November 2012.
MISSION STATEMENT
Wright State University’s chapter of Active Minds is dedicated to increasing mental health awareness, reducing stigma, and emphasizing multiculturalism on campus and in the community.
• Active Minds at WSU is a nonprofit, student-run organization open to all students of WSU.
• This chapter encourages students to speak openly about mental health and engage others in conversations about mental health.
• Active Minds at WSU provides education and advocacy about mental health.
• This chapter is committed to developing a culture that validates and normalizes mental health issues in a safe environment.
VISION
Active Minds at Wright State University intends:
• To eradicate stigma about mental health issues and eliminate suicide among university students.
• To establish a culture that recognizes and respects multiculturalism in mental health
• To engage all students, faculty, and staff in safe, healthy, and well-informed conversations about mental health
Active Minds @ Wright State University will neither provide counseling or any form of clinical mental healthcare, nor will ever form, a peer counseling or support group.
Active Minds @ Wright State University understands its’ school policies and is
committed to abiding by all said policies
GOALS
1. To empower students to change the perception of mental health on university
2. To increase recruitment and participation of students, faculty and staff in this movement for change within one year
3. To increase collaborations with other student organizations
4. To link students to mental health resources and support on campus and in the
5. To create a safe environment to start conversations about mental health
6. To provide education about specific mental health issues from a multicultural
7. To evaluate the status of the strategic plan and the organization annually
8. To fully develop and chair all committees of the chapter
9. To increase visibility of Active Mind at WSU to a national level
Active Minds is the only national mental health organization on college campuses which aims to eradicate the stigma of mental illness through increasing awareness and educating students. Alison Malmon is the founder of this organization. In 2000, toward the end of her first year of college, her older brother—who was also a college student—committed suicide. The stigma surrounding mental illness led him to hide his experience from others around him. Due to the shame surrounding individuals with a mental illness, Alison decided to take action and create an organization with various goals: to rid the stigma of mental illness, encourage students with a mental illness to seek help, and to prevent tragedies similar to that of her brother’s. Active Minds, Inc. was founded during Alison’s junior year of college. In 2003, the Active Minds, Inc. National headquarters was established in Washington, D.C. Currently, there are over 350 Active Minds chapters across the nation’s colleges. The chapters allow students to start the conversation about mental illness while providing professional resources. Campuses organize activities throughout the year to highlight the prevalence of mental health concerns (e.g., eating disorders, stress, anxiety, and suicide). Active Minds at Wright State University was established in November 2012.
MISSION STATEMENT
Wright State University’s chapter of Active Minds is dedicated to increasing mental health awareness, reducing stigma, and emphasizing multiculturalism on campus and in the community.
• Active Minds at WSU is a nonprofit, student-run organization open to all students of WSU.
• This chapter encourages students to speak openly about mental health and engage others in conversations about mental health.
• Active Minds at WSU provides education and advocacy about mental health.
• This chapter is committed to developing a culture that validates and normalizes mental health issues in a safe environment.
VISION
Active Minds at Wright State University intends:
• To eradicate stigma about mental health issues and eliminate suicide among university students.
• To establish a culture that recognizes and respects multiculturalism in mental health
• To engage all students, faculty, and staff in safe, healthy, and well-informed conversations about mental health
Active Minds @ Wright State University will neither provide counseling or any form of clinical mental healthcare, nor will ever form, a peer counseling or support group.
Active Minds @ Wright State University understands its’ school policies and is
committed to abiding by all said policies
GOALS
1. To empower students to change the perception of mental health on university
2. To increase recruitment and participation of students, faculty and staff in this movement for change within one year
3. To increase collaborations with other student organizations
4. To link students to mental health resources and support on campus and in the
5. To create a safe environment to start conversations about mental health
6. To provide education about specific mental health issues from a multicultural
7. To evaluate the status of the strategic plan and the organization annually
8. To fully develop and chair all committees of the chapter
9. To increase visibility of Active Mind at WSU to a national level