Active Minds, Inc
Active Minds, Inc
Grant Status
In Progress
Project Title
Changing the Conversation about Mental Health on New York State College Campuses
Award Amount
$125,000
Location
Washington, D.C.-based organization; statewide impact in New York
Website
Date Awarded
April 1, 2010
New York State has more than 250 colleges and universities that enroll more than 1.1 million students. Mental health issues are prevalent on campuses and the onset of many mental health disorders occurs during the college years. According to a recent survey by the American College Health Association, 15% of college students were formally diagnosed with depression last year, up from 10% four years ago.
Although most colleges have mental health services on campus, they are often underutilized. For example, data reveal that two-thirds of students with suicidal thoughts tell their friends before anyone else, but their friends often do not know what to do or how to access help. Active Minds provides that bridge by establishing student-run chapters of mental health education groups on campuses that increase awareness of mental health issues and resources, and decrease stigma.
This grant would scale up a successful program to bring mental health education to more of New York’s college students. Active Minds has already established chapters on 16 different college campuses in New York that range from community colleges to Ivy League universities, and are located in different geographic regions throughout the State. The project will expand Active Minds to 10 additional campuses statewide and bolster the strength of its existing student-run mental health awareness chapters in the State. By reaching nearly 10% of New York’s college students, it will create a critical mass of chapters to become the first statewide network of mental health outreach programs based on college campuses.