I founded Active Minds when I was a junior at the University
of Pennsylvania following the suicide of my older brother, and only sibling,
Brian. Brian was a smart, popular, and fun student through high school and
college. In the beginning of his freshman year at Columbia University, he
started struggling with depression and psychosis, but concealed his symptoms
from everyone around him for three years. In the middle of his senior year, he
returned home and began receiving treatment for what was later diagnosed as
schizoaffective disorder. His underlying depression was left untreated and only
worsened as he continued to hide his distress from his friends.
The depression had created a space for him where he felt
like he was the only one, that all of it was his fault. A year and a half later
on March 24, 2000, as I was wrapping up my freshman year at the University of
Pennsylvania, Brian ended his life. I recognized that Brian’s story is the
story of thousands of young people who suffer in silence; who, despite their
large numbers, think they are totally alone. A majority of mental illnesses
start between ages 14 and 24 when teens and young adults are in school, and
suicide is the second leading cause of death for college students.
At Penn, I saw that no one was talking about mental health
issues although many were affected. One of every five students live with a
mental health condition, but stigma and shame were preventing students from
reaching out. I knew the only way things would get better is if young people
started talking about it. I wanted to combat the stigma of mental illness,
encourage students who needed help to seek it early, and prevent future
tragedies like the one that took my brother’s life.
I looked around for existing groups I could simply bring to
Penn to begin to change the culture on campus. Finding none, I created my own
student-to-student model and forming a student group then known as Open Minds.
The group’s number one goal was to spread the word that seeking help is a sign
of strength and not something to be ashamed of.
Within two years, as the number of chapters continued to
increase and I also graduated from college, the group grew as more and more
students realized that others shared their concerns. Kate Hard, a friend of mine,
transferred to Georgetown University and founded the group’s second chapter
there. Soon I was fielding calls from all over the country from students and
administrators wanting to do something on their own campuses.
A national office was established in Washington, DC. The new
nonprofit organization and all of the affiliated campus chapters were renamed
Active Minds to reflect the organization’s focus on action and student advocacy
in mental health. Active Minds was incorporated as a 501(c)3 organization in
late 2003.
Active Minds has since become the premier organization
impacting young adults and mental health. Now on more than 600 campuses, we
directly reach close to 600,000 students each year through campus awareness
campaigns, events, advocacy, outreach, and more.
In addition to a 500+ strong chapter network of passionate
student advocates, Active Minds’ programs include Send Silence Packing®, an
award-winning suicide prevention exhibit; Active Minds Speakers featuring
professional speakers who provide encouraging and safe mental health education
for students and other audiences; and the Healthy Campus Award, which honors
colleges that are prioritizing student health and well-being.
Our consistent message, amplified by more than 15,000
students each year, is that mental health needs to be talked about as easily as
physical health. Only then can we bring suicide and mental health into the open
so no one struggles alone.
*DISCLAIMER*
The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the
authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Vice
President Biden, the Biden Institute or the University of Delaware.
