Active Minds Interview

#650 Great.com Talks With... Active Minds

In today’s world, conversations around mental health have never been more critical, especially for young adults who are navigating a fast-paced, highly competitive, and often overwhelming stage of life. This is where Active Minds comes in—a national organization dedicated to breaking down the stigma around mental health by creating open, supportive environments where people can seek help and speak freely. Founded in 2003, Active Minds began with one simple goal: to make mental health a more accessible and accepted part of daily conversations.

Today we talked with Brandi Pretlow, the VP of Community Initiatives of Active Minds, about how, what started on college campuses, has grown into a movement that now stretches across high schools, workplaces, and communities. The organization is committed to changing the culture around mental health, encouraging young people to reach out and support one another, and promoting a proactive approach to wellness.

Building Mental Health Support into the Core of Campus Life

Active Minds is known for its network of student-led chapters, which play a pivotal role in creating these welcoming environments. Across hundreds of schools and universities, these chapters organize events, facilitate discussions, and serve as a trusted resource for peers. The goal is not only to provide help but to ensure that conversations around mental health are happening everywhere—at home, in the classroom, and even in everyday social settings.

Active Minds recognizes the importance of meeting young people where they are. Through its campus chapters, the organization has built a strong presence in academic environments, where students often experience the pressures of independence, academic achievement, and social challenges all at once. In these moments, mental health can take a back seat—until it becomes a crisis.

The organization’s approach is rooted in prevention. By fostering environments where students feel comfortable discussing mental health openly, Active Minds helps to create a culture of acceptance and awareness. Initiatives such as "Send Silence Packing," a traveling display of backpacks symbolizing the lives lost to suicide, are both impactful and sobering. They remind us of the gravity of mental health issues while encouraging action and dialogue before tragedy strikes.

But Active Minds doesn’t stop at the individual level. The organization engages with institutions to build stronger support systems, advocating for improved mental health policies and resources on campuses nationwide. Its outreach extends beyond students, involving faculty, administrators, and community leaders in the conversation. This comprehensive approach helps ensure that young adults are not navigating their mental health journeys alone but are surrounded by informed, caring networks.

As the conversation around mental health continues to evolve, Active Minds remains at the forefront, leading by example. Through education, awareness, and community-building, they are proving that open dialogue can save lives, reduce stigma, and change how we think about mental health.

Want to know more about them? Make sure to read their stories, as every one of these stories matter, and to follow them on Facebook and Instagram.