Active Minds reactivates

Active Minds has started on campus again after having been inactive for one year.
Their first act as a reorganized group was to hang red umbrellas from trees in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Week, which was Oct. 7-13.

“It’s an eye-catcher, and we put the facts [about mental health] on the umbrellas, specifically Luther statistics,” Active Minds’ Vice President Sadie Stoiber (‘15) said.

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The facts written on the umbrellas were from the National College Health Survey, which many Luther students took last spring.

“I was pretty surprised by the facts, like how much mental health is actually a problem on campus,” Stoiber said. “People were definitely educated by it.”

Active Minds was restarted by president Aaron Budihas (‘15) and Dylan Hinton (‘15).

“We decided that there needed to be some sort of group like this,” Budihas said.

The Active Minds that was operating two years ago dissolved because many of the members graduated.

The group identifies three main purposes of their Active Minds chapter: to spread mental health awareness and literacy on campus, to promote and foster mental wellness and to bridge the gap between students and counseling services.

“There are lots of people out there who have issues with mental health who want to get help but don’t know what to do or feel like they’re alone,” Stoiber said. “This is a good starting point to tell them it’s more common than you think, you are not alone and there is a group out there who wants to help you.”

Casey DeLima / Chips

Active Minds plans to organize social events that connect to positive mental health. Their first will be a bonfire at Dunning’s Spring on Friday, Nov. 2.

The group hopes the social aspect as well as being out in nature will help participants take a break and relax.

“Not only are [social activities] an opportunity to talk about mental health awareness but they also create mental wellness through socialization and friendship,” Budihas said.
Though some students found the facts about mental health on the red umbrellas shocking, Active Minds members see it as a foundation for growth.

“It may be scary, but it’s important to realize that this is actually happening and once you know it’s a prevalent problem on campus, you can get the tools and resources you need to get help,” Stoiber said. “Know that there is an organization out there who is specifically there to help you with these situations.”

For more information or to join Active Minds, contact Budihas.