Active Minds: Addressing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

Active Minds commemorating Mental Health Awareness Month with a display of green flags on campus. Courtesy of Active Minds

Trigger warning: The following article contains discussions of suicide.

When Alison Malmon was a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania, she lost her only brother to suicide. After that tragedy, Malmon made it her mission to change the approach to mental health throughout the country. 

Brian Malmon began struggling with depression and psychosis during his freshman year at Columbia University. Instead of seeking help, he sheltered away and buried his pain for years. 

During his senior year at Columbia, he returned home to seek treatment and was later diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. Continuing to struggle with his disorder, Brian ended his life on March 24, 2000. 

 “The depression had created a space for him where he felt like he was the only one, that all of it was his fault,” said Alison.

In 2003, Alison founded Active Minds, a nonprofit organization that focuses on action and student advocacy in mental health. Active Minds has student-led chapters at more than 600 schools. The nonprofit focuses on the mental health of young adults ages 14-25.

“Young adults have identified mental health as their social justice issue,” said Alison. “They are going to be the ones that change this for future generations.”

It wasn’t until 2019 that Ashley Wohlrab ‘20 heard about Active minds and started a campus-led chapter at Marist. Since its inception, the Marist chapter has worked closely with Marist Counseling Services and other wellness organizations on campus.

“I started as a Vice President and after Ashley graduated, I took on her role as President,” Annabel Banks ‘22 said. “I have always been passionate about mental health awareness and when I saw that Ashley was bringing a chapter of Active Minds to Marist, I knew I had to be a part of it.”

Active Minds holds a variety of events on campus such as mindfulness activities, anxiety and stress release workshops and panel discussions. This semester, on April 26 at 9:15 p.m. in the Cabaret, Active Minds will be hosting a guest speaker, Kevin Hines. 

“Kevin is a suicide attempt survivor who now travels the world sharing his story of recovery and hope,” Banks said.

After struggling with bipolar disorder from the age of 16, Kevin Hines traveled to the Golden Gate Bridge on September 25, 2000. It was on the bridge that he heard voices telling him to die. Minutes later, Hines threw himself over the rail of the bridge and instantly felt regret. 

When he hit the water below, he landed on both of his feet. In absolute pain, he felt a creature nudging his body. A sea lion helped keep Hines afloat until the Coast Guard was able to rescue him from the water. He is one of only thirty-six to survive the fall from the Golden Gate Bridge.

“Life is a gift, that is why they call it the present,” Hines said. “Cherish it always.”

After Active Minds holds the speaking event on Tuesday night with Hines, they will be having a mental health fair with Hines on April 27 during activity hour on the third floor of the student center. 

The Marist Chapter of Active Minds hopes to continually reach audiences on campus through advocacy, speakers and outreach events. While addressing mental health and suicide can be challenging, Active Minds wants to have an open discussion around the topics so that nobody feels alone on their journey. 

If you are having suicidal thoughts or ideation, please seek help immediately by calling the National Suicide Prevention Line 1–800–273–8255.