Active Minds

Practice Summary

Active Minds is a community- and school-based mental health promotion program for youth age 14–25. Through student-led chapters, peer education, campaigns, and national initiatives, Active Minds promotes mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and help-seeking behaviors. Programs are delivered through ongoing campus and community engagement rather than a fixed session structure, and include events, trainings, storytelling campaigns, and advocacy efforts. Active Minds emphasizes peer-to-peer connection, reducing stigma, and increasing knowledge and support around mental health.

            Cost
            FREE
        

            Practice Focus
            MH
        

Substance Use Prevention Category	Not Applicable
Practice Level	Individual Relationship Community or Society
Substance Use Prevention Strategy	Not Applicable
Practice Components	Individual Communication Skills Training Insight Building Psychoeducation Self-Efficacy or Self-Esteem Enhancement Relationship Peer-Led Approaches Pro-Social Connections and Activities Support Networking Community/Society Media Campaigns Shifting Community Norms
Population Age	Age 13-17 Age 18-20
Populations of Focus	General Population
Settings	School (K-12) Community-based program
Parent/Caregiver Involvement	No parent or caregiver involvement
Recommended Staffing	Teachers or educators Prevention staff Peers
Prevention Focus	Substance Use Prevention Focus None Mental Health Wellness and Promotion Focus Mental Health - General Anxiety Depression
Training and Technical Assistance	Active Minds provides training, toolkits, and support for student leaders and chapter advisors, including guidance on running campus chapters, implementing campaigns, and facilitating mental health programming.
Program Costs	Free. Please visit the developer's website listed above for updated information about implementation costs.
Adaptations	Programs are adaptable across high schools, colleges, and communities, with flexibility in implementation (events, campaigns, chapters).

Risk and Protective Factors

Youth Substance Use Risk and Protective Factors

Level	Risk Factors	Protective Factors
Individual	Poor coping skills and behaviors	Emotional self-regulation High self-esteem Personal engagement in two or more of the following: school, peers, athletics, employment, religion/spirituality, culture Strong coping skills (e.g., problem-solving skills, ability to stand up for beliefs and values)
Family and Relationships	None	None
School, Peer, and Community	None	Opportunities for the development of skills and interests Positive peer relationships Opportunities for prosocial engagement in the school and community Positive social norms Presence of mentors and healthy adults for positive emotional support

Youth Mental Health Risk and Protective Factors

Level	Risk Factors	Protective Factors
Individual	Low self-esteem Poor coping skills and behaviors	Positive self-regard Emotional self-regulation High self-esteem Personal engagement in two or more of the following: school, peers, athletics, employment, religion/spirituality, culture Strong coping skills (e.g., problem-solving skills, ability to stand up for beliefs and values)
Family and Relationships	None	None
School, Peer, and Community	Lack of access to support services	Strong peer relationships Opportunities for prosocial engagement in the school and community Positive social norms Presence of mentors and healthy adults for positive emotional support

Shared Substance Use and Mental Health Risk and Protective Factors

Level	Risk Factors	Protective Factors
Individual	Poor coping skills and behaviors	Emotional self-regulation High self-esteem Personal engagement in two or more of the following: school, peers, athletics, employment, religion/spirituality, culture Strong coping skills (e.g., problem-solving skills, ability to stand up for beliefs and values)
Family and Relationships	None	None
School, Peer, and Community	None	Opportunities for prosocial engagement in the school and community Positive social norms Presence of mentors and healthy adults for positive emotional support

Empirical Evidence of Impact

Prevention Focus	Outcome	Population Age	Evidence Strength and Study Populations of Focus
Mental Health (General)	Improved Relationships and Community Connectedness	College (18-24)	Promising (General Population)^1–2
Mental Health (General)	Behavior, Attitudes, and Functioning	College (18-24)	Promising (General Population)¹

References

¹ Sontag-Padilla, L., Dunbar, M. S., Ye, F., Kase, C., Fein, R., Abelson, S., ... & Stein, B. D. (2018). Strengthening college students’ mental health knowledge, awareness, and helping behaviors: the impact of active minds, a peer mental health organization. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 57(7), 500-507

² Stern, C. A., & LaChappelle, M. E. (2023). Program considerations and addressing At-Risk populations in active Minds clubs: A brief report. Community Mental Health Journal, 59(5), 1027-1034

What California Providers Are Saying

We have not yet spoken to any California providers who have experience implementing Active Minds. If you have implemented the program, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us.