Program Considerations and Addressing At-Risk Populations in Active Minds Clubs: A Brief Report

Active Minds, a national non-profit, was created to combat suicide and mental health stigma among youth and young adults. Research has indicated that Active Minds has been effective in positively changing students’ attitudes and behaviors towards mental health. This study seeks to understand what else Active Minds can do to address mental health barriers and help-seeking within student populations and how Active Minds can better support at-risk populations in their wellness. This study consisted of four focus groups, and 13 participants completed a Brief Questionnaire and answered open-ended questions from a semi-structured interview guide. The narrative was coded and categorized, and thematic analysis was utilized. Eight themes were identified: (a) creating shared safe spaces (b) mental health stigma among Native American and Hispanic/Latinx students (c) the vulnerability of LGBTQ + student populations (d) addressing special populations in Active Minds programming (e) the role of gender and religion in mental health (f) cultural education and resources (g) normalizing mental health through education and family conversation, and (h) promotion of Active Minds and accessibility of counseling. Because the sample size only consisted of 13 participants the results cannot be generalized to students, but the results are transferable to student populations. The researchers recommend that Active Minds use a peer support model and develop curriculums that address mental health stigma and cultural education in diverse populations. Future research is needed to uncover those strategies that might engage males in mental health education.