Students get together to share their experiences regarding mental health and to give each other support. Photo by James McIntosh.
A chapter of Active Minds, an organization that promotes conversations on mental health, was founded at the University of Rhode Island last spring.
In the spring 2019 semester, then-junior kinesiology and psychology double major Stephen Cirella, founded Active Minds at URI. Cirella is now the president of the group.
According to Cirella, who is also a member of the track team at URI, the club is meant to raise awareness around the topic of mental health through advocacy on campus.
“I try and emphasize in our meetings when I am talking to new people that although it is a heavy and serious topic, it is something we do need to talk about and really bring to light,” said Cirella. “No one would be ashamed of saying they sprained their ankle or broke their wrist. I think we need to talk about mental health as anything else a physical injury, it is something no one should be ashamed of.”
The club ran a booth alongside Campus Recreation at Fresh Check Day on Oct. 16 to promote the integration of physical activity and mental health. The booth had a board with the words “physical activity makes me feel” and participants wrote down their answers.
The group also ran the sunflower table for the Heather Fund at the Be5K on Oct. 27. Participants wrote down the name of someone they know who has lost their life to suicide or is struggling with mental health. The group would then put a sunflower on the name to show their support.
Active Minds at URI was started last March when Cirella’s athletic trainer approached him with the idea because they saw a need for such a group on campus. Since their start up they have been recognized by Student Senate and by the national Active Minds organization.
Although those who initially knew about the club were in URI’s Athletic Department, Cirella emphasized that everyone is welcome to the club. Cirella said that he wants to broaden the club to the entire campus community.
According to Cirella, Active Minds has plans to participate in events and hold events later in the school year to end the stigma around mental health and start a conversation. The club is currently in the process of planning a 5K race for the spring semester.
Cirella, who is graduating this year, is planning on continuing his involvement in the club while he is in in graduate school.
“It’s really humbling in the sense that I didn’t realize how much of an influence it could be, it’s given me a whole new passion,” said Cirella. “It’s given me kind of a purpose. I was wondering what my purpose was in life for a while and then when I was approached by my trainer who I love so much it really gave me a perspective of this is what I want to do, I want to advocate for mental health.”