Student’s Mental Health Struggle Helps Create 'Active Minds' Group

BY RACHEL BRADY
Miami University journalism student

Miami University senior Carly Traynor has struggled with mental health issues for a number of years.

Traynor had hoped that the conversation about mental health would become easier in college but that wasn’t the case for her. Even when she did find someone who seemed comfortable talking with about her issues, it was obvious that they weren’t very familiar with the topic.

“It didn’t seem like there was a whole lot of awareness when I did tell people,” said Traynor. “People just never knew how to respond.”

Unfortunately Traynor’s struggle with mental health issues is not unique.

According to National Data on Campus Suicide and Depression, almost 50 percent of college students suffer with depression and one in every 12 students actually make a suicide plan.

‘The idea was born’

After her first year, Traynor became an residence assistant on campus. In that capacity, she saw how many students on Miami’s campus were struggling with the same feelings and mental health issues that she was. . That is when Traynor first developed the idea to start a group on campus to help normalize conversations about mental illness.

She began searching online for national organizations that focus on getting rid of the stigma surrounding mental health and became very interested in one called Active Minds.

‘Rocky Start’

After one failed attempt and much collaboration, Traynor along with fellow student Meg Terlau had done it. The details came together in the fall of 2015 and Active Minds became an official organization on Miami’s campus.

However, like many mental health organizations before it at Miami, Active Minds had some trouble gaining traction.

“Our first year was actually pretty unsuccessful,” said Traynor. “Not a lot of people knew who we were.”

This didn’t stop Traynor nor end her passion for reducing the stigma surrounding mental health. She continued to work to recruit and get the word out because she knew that so many students needed what Active Minds was capable of bringing to Miami’s campus.

‘Bright Future’

Now in its second year, Active Minds at Miami has more than 40 members and is looking to continue growing in membership and increasing its reach to students all over campus.

“I am really excited to be involved in Active Minds this semester,” said sophomore and new member Daniel Gonzalez. “There’s a need for a much more open conversation about mental health and I want to help achieve that.”

Traynor, with the help of Gonzalez and the other new members, are pushing for an increased presence on campus this year.

Already this year Active Minds has either sponsored or assisted with many mental health awareness events and forums at Miami University. Among them was the third annual Glow Run 5K on Oct. 12, which was co-sponsored by Phi Chi Theta; and the Oct. 9 Out of the Darkness Walk to End Suicide. Active Minds also played a large role in hosting a Sept. 7 forum about mental health that included remarks from Miami President Gregory Crawford and Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor.

Traynor looks forward to continued growth and awareness for Active Minds at Miami University in the coming spring semester.

Photo: Carly Traynor helped create the Active Minds chapter at Miami University. -- Photo by Rachel Brady