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Active Minds: Fostering Conversation on Mental Health

Building a supportive community and breaking the silence on mental health 

Rigorous coursework, high expectations and a fast-paced environment can take a toll on mental well-being. Yet, amid the pressure, a registered student organization is breaking the silence. , Â鶹´«Ã½’s chapter of a national mental health advocacy group, is working to shift the narrative by creating a space where students can talk openly about mental health, connect with resources and build a supportive community. Through candid conversations, impactful events and University partnerships, they’re proving that no student has to navigate their struggles alone. 

Active Minds has over 450 chapters across the country dedicated to destigmatizing mental health discussions among students and young adults. Â鶹´«Ã½’s chapter was established in 2006 and aims to create a barrier-free environment—there are no membership requirements and students can participate as much or as little as they choose. Whether attending one meeting or every event throughout the quarter, every student is welcome. 

"We know that Â鶹´«Ã½ is such a stressful environment," said Medill senior Evelyn Driscoll, co-president of Active Minds. "We don’t want to add to that stress by making our club feel like another obligation. Instead, we want it to be a supportive space where students can come together to talk about mental health." 

Active Minds hosts bi-weekly meetings focused on different aspects of wellness, like how to manage academic stress and how to talk about mental health with family members. Meetings also feature guided discussions on topics such as navigating therapy, identifying self-care strategies and recognizing signs of burnout. In addition to structured conversations, some meetings incorporate mindfulness exercises, stress-relief activities and peer support sessions, providing a space where students can openly share their experiences in a non-judgmental environment. 

One of the club’s most popular events is its Stigma Panel, an annual event where students openly share their stories about mental health. At this year’s panel, which occurred on February 20, students discussed topics like seasonal affective disorder, OCD, eating disorders, depression and suicide. The event also included a Q&A where audience members submitted questions anonymously to foster further discussion on stigmatized topics. 

"It’s incredibly powerful to hear students share their journeys," Driscoll said. "It’s rare to find such an open and authentic space, but that’s exactly what we need to break the stigma surrounding mental health." 

The club also organizes stress-relief events such as Stress Less Week during finals season, where they table in the library to provide students with fidget toys, snacks, and self-care tips. Soon, Active Minds is hosting a ‘How to Find a Therapist’ workshop, in collaboration with Connections Health, a therapy office in Evanston. 

Beyond events, Active Minds is working with Â鶹´«Ã½ administrators to offer a student perspective on mental health services. Driscoll and her co-president, School of Education and Social Policy sophomore Jack McNiel, have been in discussions with the Dean of Students office to create a student roundtable that would bring together wellness organizations to discuss improvements to campus mental health services. By working collaboratively with other student groups and university officials, Active Minds hopes to push for lasting changes that go beyond awareness campaigns and directly improve access to care. 

The club takes a "quality over quantity" approach, focusing on making a meaningful impact on those who attend programming. 

"If we can help even one student feel less alone in their struggles, then we’ve succeeded," McNiel said. "We want people to come, experience what we do and hopefully keep coming back." 

Ultimately, Active Minds seeks to maintain a supportive community that Â鶹´«Ã½ students can depend upon. 

"The conversations we have at Active Minds aren’t just about mental health—they're about supporting each other as people," McNiel said. "It’s about making sure no one feels like they have to go through their struggles alone." 

As the club continues to grow and develop new initiatives, its message remains clear: No student should feel alone in their mental health journey. Through Active Minds, they don’t have to be.