By Grace Nordquist–Morningside’s Active Minds is a mental health group dedicated to reducing the stigma around mental health and educating college students on mental health issues.
The group has done a lot since its founding this fall. They’ve hosted meetings and boot camps sessions, won an award, and attended the national conference earlier this month.
As finals and the end of the school year nears, students and professors may find themselves more stressed than usual. To help, Active Minds is hosting a “stress less” week April 23-26.
Events for the week include:
Tuesday April 23: Scream “I scream for ice cream” 7:00pm-8:00pm on the M
Wednesday April 24: Stress Balls 11:00am- 1:00 pm on the M
Thursday April 25: Chalk and Bubbles 11:00am-1:00pm on the M
Friday April 26th: Stomp out Stigma 8:00pm-11:00pm in the Yockey Family Room.
Mo Voller, Active Minds’ director of communications is prepared for the coming week. She said, “I hope the weather is nice so activities can go as planned.” If the weather is bad, the group has planned to move the events inside.
Friday’s dance marathon from 8-11 p.m. is extra special since it is unlike any that Morningside has ever done. The goal of the dance is to raise money for mental health advocacy at Morningside and college campuses across the country. While Active Minds has had tabling events, speakers, and meetings, the hopes of the “Stomp Out Stigma” dance is to have fun while learning about mental health.
Active Minds’ president Macie Moore is excited and nervous about the upcoming week. She said, “Since it is only our first year on campus putting on a big event like this is definitely nerve-wracking.” Luckily groups on campus and community members are as excited for the events as the group is, easing the nerves a bit.
KMSC, Morningside’s student run radio station, plans to be the night’s DJ’s. Other groups on campus have been invited to set up booths at the dance as well. This way, Active Minds is opening the event up for other groups to get some publicity while also learning more about mental health, a topic that can benefit everyone.
Moore hopes that the Stomp Out Stigma dance and” stress less” week is “a way to help students let off some steam before finals and hopefully become more aware of the important role mental health plays!”
Next week, remember to leave for class a couple minutes early to make a stress ball or chalk and bubble up the M, save room for dessert Monday after dinner, and let a scream out from all that studying. Finals week can be stressful. Instead of ignoring it, deal with it in positive outlets using Active Mind’s “stress less” week.
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