About

The goal of Active Minds is to increase the awareness of mental health, and reduce the stigma associated with mental health conditions. Active Minds strives to change the way mental health is perceived, provide education about signs and symptoms of various mental health conditions and to give momentum to students who want to reshape the image of mental health. Active Minds at Ball State University is an officially recognized chapter of Active Minds, the national student mental health awareness and advocacy group based in Washington, DC. Our mission is to increase BSU students' awareness of mental health issues, provide information and resources regarding mental health and mental illness, and to encourage to seek help as soon as it is needed. We also aim to strengthen the mechanisms for peer support, and serve as a liaison between students and the mental health community. We serve as an additional and complementary organization to the already-exiting Mental Health Initiative. By promoting awareness and education, Active Minds at BSU aims to reduce stigma that surrounds mental illness and create an open environment for discussion of mental health issues.The purpose of Active Minds at BSU is threefold. The group strives to encourage all students to reach out to mental health resources when they are feeling overwhelmed, saddened, or frustrated by academics, professional work, family issues, or relationships. Active Minds primary work in this area consists of providing information about resources available at the university and in the Muncie community. In particular, the group encourages all students to make use of the FREE counseling services available at The Ball State University Counseling Center, which provides free and confidential psychological and career resources to students. The primary mission of the agency is to assist students in improving their quality of life. The staff is diverse, professional, warm, and receptive to students who seek services.

Students may call the center from 7:30AM to 4PM, Monday thru Friday at 765.285.1736 or at 765.747.7330 at any other time.

Closely related to their goals is our desire to de-stigmatize mental illness and the use of mental health resources. Active Minds believes all students would benefit from programming or counseling designed to support mental well-being. In this vein, the final goal of Active Minds is to coordinate programs with the Ball State Counseling Center, the Office of the President, the Department of Social Work, and other groups to teach students about topics like stress-relieving techniques and identifying career options that match people’s special interests and talents.

Our primary goal, relative to our awareness initiative, is service to our campus community to suppress mental health stigma and other oppressions faced by people whose lives are impacted by mental illness. We realize that it is incumbent upon Active Minds at Ball State University to act in opposition to all forms of discrimination and other oppressions, intentional or otherwise.