In the symphony of life, mental health often plays a leading role. Like a well-conducted orchestra, maintaining harmony within oneself requires a balance of many elements. Music stands as a universal language, and has the power to soothe the mind, uplift the spirit, and facilitate healing. It is important to explore the therapeutic benefits of music and offer practical tips on incorporating it into your mental health regimen. Music therapy is a structured process where a trained therapist utilizes music interventions to address individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship. It’s not j ..read more

Gen Z is no stranger to advocacy. But what happens when mental and physical commitment to a cause becomes too much? This is called advocacy burnout. Earth Day elevates climate and environmental concerns to the top of mind. Many honor the day through participation in outdoor clean-ups, donating to environment-focused organizations, and resharing educational content on social media. However, many advocate beyond days of observation by staying informed and taking action throughout the year. Advocacy plays a critical role in shaping a better world, however, it can often lead to advocacy burnout. W ..read more

There seems to be a pop culture shift happening. The word “girl” has gone from once being used as a schoolyard insult to an everyday compliment with phrases like “That’s so girl,” its own budgeting strategy with “girl math,” an exercise with “hot girl walks,” and even 2023 being marked as the “Year of the Girl.” Young girls can now watch Barbie and see a woman as president or listen to Beyoncé and hear the most decorated Grammy-winning performing artist of all time. However, through all of this, it seems America Ferrera’s Oscar-nominated monologue from the recent Barbie movie still rings true ..read more

In today’s fast-paced world, the concept of self-care has become more than just a buzzword; it’s a heavily discussed movement. From Instagram influences promoting skincare routines to celebrities advocating for their meditation practices, self-care has become embedded into pop culture. However, in this new age of social media, the concept of self-care often can feel like an unattainable ideal reserved for those with picture-perfect lives. True self-care, though, is not about perfection but instead about authenticity and personal growth. As I reflect on my self-care journey, I’ve come to realiz ..read more

In his 2024 State of the Union address, President Biden reaffirmed his commitment to addressing the ongoing youth mental health crisis in the United States. As the nation continues to grapple with the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing prevalence of mental health disorders among young people, the Biden administration has taken significant steps to prioritize mental health and expand access to critical resources and support. This is especially important in the face of the youth mental health crisis: nearly 20% of children and young people ages 3-17 in the United State ..read more

The Active Minds Mental Health Conference is unlike any other. I had the privilege of helping to plan the conference as part of the Student Advisory Committee in 2022 and 2023, though I still walked in like it was my first time. The culture at the conference was incredible, and I left feeling seen and heard by my peers and other industry leaders. As a result of my time at the Conference, I have had many opportunities and abilities to use my voice for change through networking with other mental health leaders. Now, I’m looking forward to attending the Active Minds “Be the Change” Mental Health ..read more

Research shows that peer-to-peer outreach is the best way to reduce the stigma that surrounds mental health and to encourage people to seek help if they need it. Since 2009, the Active Minds Speakers have provided mental health outreach for students and young adults nationwide, sharing their personal stories regarding mental health struggles and resilience. With mental health struggles on the rise, our Speakers shed light on educational mental health experiences for audiences, opening up the conversation about mental health and creating a lasting impact on the way people talk about mental heal ..read more

Welcome to our spring 2024 interns, our biggest advocates for mental health awareness! Every semester, our class of interns at Active Minds contributes to important initiatives, including chapter support, program development, fundraising, and so much more. We’re thrilled to see all the work our interns will do during these coming months and their contributions toward mental health awareness. Cassandra Izquierdo (Development) 1. Where are you from?I am from Garfield, NJ. 2. Where do you (or did you) go to school, and what is/was your major?I am a junior at Rutgers University-Newark, studying p ..read more

In life, we often find ourselves swaying to the rhythms of obligations, responsibilities, and the needs of others. Amidst all this, it’s easy to lose sight of the most essential melody: the tune of self-care and self-love. We tend to gravitate towards our daily obligations and responsibilities and repress the self-care necessary to allow us to carry on these activities. By providing ourselves with these acts of love, we can prioritize our well-being alongside the other essential parts of our lives, not instead of them. We answer the question “Is self-care selfish?” with a resounding no, rememb ..read more

For many of us, mental health has become intertwined into our everyday conversations — chatting with our friends about daily stressors, reading social media posts about managing anxiety, and meeting with a therapist when things feel out of control. However, as commonplace as mental health can feel to some of us, that simply isn’t the reality for many people. There are still so many out there who don’t talk about or even hear about mental health in their daily lives. The good news? You can be the one to help bridge the gap — here are four simple ways to bring mental health conversations to your ..read more