Active Minds @ WPI

What types of events does Active Minds put on?

Active Minds members plan events on campus to raise awareness about issues of mental health and resources.  The goals of these events are to promote an open dialogue and therefore reduce the stigma associated with mental health. Common invents include movie screenings (i.e. "Girl Interrupted" and "Prozac Nation"), Mental Health Awareness Week campaigns (e.g. Suicide Prevention Week), flyering campus, panel discussions, guest speakers (e.g. Active Minds Founder Alison Malmon, November 2008), tabling with information, and stress relief activities during final exams (e.g. Stress Out Day featuring "Scream for Ice Cream").

Featured Events:

Send Silence Packing 

Monday April 23rd
Location: Quad, Rain Location: Odeum

 “Send Silence Packing is an exhibit of 1,100 backpacks representing the number of college student lives lost to suicide each year.  Active Minds Inc. has collected and continues to collect backpacks and personal stories in memory or in honor of loved ones impacted by suicide.  By displaying backpacks with personal stories of loved ones that put a "face" to lives lost to suicide, Send Silence Packing carries the message that preventing suicide is not just about lowering statistics, but also about saving the lives of students, daughters, sons, brothers, sisters and friends across the nation.  Contributions serve as a meaningful outlet for survivors' grief as well as a powerful way to raise awareness and work towards suicide prevention.”

Past Event: Speaker Jaime Tworkowski
"Pain, Hope, Questions, and Community: An Evening with To Write Love on Her Arms"
Monday, March 28, 2011 @ 7pm
Alden Hall
Jaime Tworkowski is the founder of To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA), a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. Speaking with a message of hope and community, he reminds people that they are not alone and this is not the end of their story.

Past Event: Speaker Lizzie Simon
Tuesday, March 23, 2010 @ 7pm
Kinnicutt Hall / Salisbury 115
Author of Detour: My Bipolar Road Trip in 4-D
Consultant & Producer of MTV's True Life: I'm Bipolar
A remarkable program that addresses coping skills, living a balanced life, bipolar disorder, and tells a powerful story of survival.

Active Minds National Conference 2009

Who are the student leaders in Active Minds @ WPI?                                                              

Katy Tongue, President
Jessica Guyette, Vice President
Ward Pettibone, Treasurer
TBA, Secretary                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Elections in January!

How do I get involved in Active Minds?

It's simple. Be a part of changing the conversation about mental health here at WPI. Make an effort to reduce the stigma. Come to the events. Help out at events. Join the club. Meetings are open so come by anytime. If you can't make meetings be sure to get on our list serve to stay up to date through receiving meeting minutes. For more information contact Active Minds Advisor Erica Tolles at the Student Development & Counseling Center by emailing or calling 508-831-5540.

C Term Meetings
TBA
 At the SDCC
All Are Welcome!

What students have to say about Active Minds @ WPI...

"I myself have been affected by depression, and therefore know how important a group like Active Minds can be for suffering students on any college campus.  I am personally invested in the mission to change the conversation about mental health and to fight to decrease the stigma surrounding mental health problems in general.  Active Minds has helped me to be more involved in a cause that I keep so close to my heart, and it inspires me to better learn about people.  I have grown so much since becoming a member, and I want others to feel just as proud for this organization as I am!" – Amanda Clark '11

"Active Minds has started an important conversation about mental health on the WPI campus as well as a campaign to make students aware of the necessity of mental health awareness.  These two parts: conversation and awareness will help better the WPI students and community in the future."   – Erik Oliver '12


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Last modified: February 10, 2012 14:53:44