​Mental health conversations have always had a soft spot in my heart for as long as I can remember. To me, it didn’t matter how busy I was or what kind of personal situation I was going through, I always held dear to the conversations I’ve had with people struggling mentally. Mostly, it stemmed from the fact that I did as well, and I knew how it felt to be alone. My story focuses on living with depression, which in my household was a forbidden word. Coming from an Asian culture, depression was taboo, it simply was not “real” because “What could have it possibly stemmed from?” my mom always asked. Thus, I’ve been conditioned to stay silent about it, until it reached a point. I remember staying afterschool to have a chat with my Psychology teacher who taught me the importance of using resources around you but “How could I?” I thought to myself. I was very deep into being secretive that it became maladaptive in my life, but I knew I owned it to myself to get better or get an ounce of what it felt like to get better. I attended school therapy and honestly, it never worked with me. I downloaded apps, again, it never worked with me. So I bared with it until I used a mental health crisis line and, honestly, that moment healed parts of me that I didn’t know was broken. Long story short, using resources was the first step to healing and it lead me to joining Active Minds, so I could advocate for its importance and decrease the stigma it has through culture or even social media. To those who are struggling, it’s okay to feel scared, but one conversation with a friend, a random stranger, or a crisis line could save your life, like it did mine. 

By ​Hillary Himaya.

​I strongly believe mental health is as important as physical health but often goes unregarded, leaving people feeling lost and lonely.  Dealing with the struggle of anxiety, along with grappling with issues overlooked in life due to the fast-paced nature of the world has left me feeling lost.  I myself have dealt with feeling extremely overwhelmed, struggling to get through the day as it seems like the world around me is moving but my mind is flooded with thoughts that nobody else can see.  Active Minds has provided me with an outlet to not only express these feelings, as seen in instances such as discussing and shedding light on imposter syndrome, allowing me to understand the need to celebrate all accomplishments, but also through building community with others around me.  From the icebreakers asked at the beginning of the meeting to discussing sensitive topics and personal accomplishments that often go overlooked, Active Minds has allowed me to better remember the importance of my mental health and actively face and discuss mental health conditions through committees.  These different workshops allow all areas of mental health to be covered, including vocalization, reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and rightfully integrating it into a club setting, allowing it to receive the recognition it needs as it helps shape our everyday.