Active Minds

As the only mental health club at Exeter, Active Minds seeks to bring awareness to mental health at the Academy and to help students find ways to relieve their stress. Through making stress balls, inviting assembly speakers to campus and hanging up posters to address stigmas surrounding mental illness, Active Minds leads the fight against misconceptions surrounding mental health on campus. Each Monday during lunch, upper Alyssa Kuwana and lower Ursula Sze lead discussions about mental health as the co-heads of Active Minds.Kuwana first joined Active Minds during her lower year, after realizing how stressful Exeter can be. According to her, there is a significant lack of regard for mental health on campus. “People like to brush it aside, and that can be very detrimental to students’ health,” she said.Kuwana added that coming to Exeter made her realize the importance of mental health, “I never really thought twice about [mental health] until coming to Exeter,” she said. “I now realize how important it is to take care of your mental health.”At first, the club struggled with low attendance at their meetings, but both Kuwana and Sze feel that the club is finally gaining momentum. “I really enjoy everyone’s enthusiasm and their willingness to contribute to removing the stigma around mental health on campus,” Kuwana said.

“I never really thought twice about [mental health] until coming to Exeter.”

In an effort to promote awareness, Active Minds invited Hakeem Rahim to speak at assembly on Jan. 31. Rahim, who began suffering from bipolar disorder during his time at Harvard College, has now dedicated himself to being a powerful advocate for mental health. Rahim spoke to the audience about the vast spectrum of mental illnesses and discussed with students ways to overcome mental health stigma. He also stressed the importance of creating a community where members feel comfortable seeking help.Rahim’s accounts of his experiences with mental health resonated with many Exonians. “He brought mental health into perspective, and helped people realize that mental illness is lot more common than we think,” Kuwana said. Upper JP Kim agreed with Kuwana, commending Rahim for shedding light on a topic that is typically avoided. “The assembly was really nice because the speaker not only shared his own experience, but also reminded students that we shouldn’t be ignoring the significance of mental health,” he said.Active Minds is currently working on a project called “Post Secret,” a biennial event inspired by Frank Warren’s original community art project. Students and faculty are welcomed to  submit anonymous secrets written on index cards. The club will then display these cards in Agora on Friday, Feb. 17. PEADQUACS, a student a cappella group, will perform during an opening ceremony showcasing the project. “The goal of this event is to try to let go of secrets and show people that they are not alone,” Sze said. Lower Adrian Venzon, who recently joined the club, expressed his excitement about the upcoming event. “We’re participating in a project that has reached the entire nation.”In addition to planning events, Active Minds continues to encourage students to be brave when it comes to discussions about mental health. Not only does the club want students to reach out to one another, but also try to talk to adults and counselors around campus. During the Latin Study lunch, Rahim brought up the problem of students feeling uncomfortable talking to counselors. Students expressed fears that counselors may question and invalidate their problems, or even force them to take a medical leave. “We were talking about these problems with the speaker and I think that’s a good goal to work towards—making sure that when kids have problems, they don’t think that their problems are smaller than they actually are and that they feel comfortable reaching out to counselors,” Sze said.Active Minds provides an open and comfortable space for these discussions, and is known for their hard work and welcoming atmosphere. Lower Maddie Moon, a member of the club, expressed her admiration. “The coheads are amazing and super sweet,” she said. “They are the ones who make the club as great as it is.” Like Moon, lower Lizzie Madamidola described the club as a safe and comforting environment, saying, “People are accepting and nice, and I would feel free to talk openly there.”Kuwana also attributed her increased comfort with encouraging friends to ask for guidance to Active Minds. “I’m less afraid to go seek help or even help my friends who need a little nudge to ask for help,” she said.