By: Madelynn Loring, Staff Writer
As we approach the two year anniversary of the first national COVID-19 lock down, it is critical to acknowledge the effect the ongoing pandemic has had on our health, both physically and mentally. While we may know the worst we will face with the physical aspect of the virus, the impact of long stretches and anxieties on our mental health is not yet fully known, though we are certainly feeling the effect. According to the US Census Bureau, reports of depression and anxiety symptoms have increased by over 300% since pre-pandemic times and mental health care units, much like the rest of the healthcare industry, are becoming overwhelmed Even the counseling office of Regis’s OCPD is experiencing an influx of students seeking therapy, resulting in weeks-long wait lists to see a practitioner.
To address this on campus, a new but familiar group has formed called Active Minds. Active Minds is a national nonprofit dedicated to providing mental health resources and education to students on college campuses. Regis has had an Active Minds chapter in the past, but it was dissolved in 2019. But, in the face of great community need, it has been revived to provide further support to Rangers. When asked about what inspired him to restart Active Minds, president Cooper Pahl answered, “Honestly, because I think it is needed. [The] main goal is to decrease mental health stigma and create a place where self-worth and healing is prioritized, and not just in classrooms but all across campus.” Active Minds provides training for stepping into mental health crises as well as local and national mental health resources.
Currently, Active Minds is working alongside VAVP, the OCPD, RAs, and other community groups to put on events such as panels on eating disorders and other mental health conditions, self care goody bags, and Lofi Bob Ross event including an evening of de-stressing activities like art. To find more information about these events, visit Active Minds @activeminds_regis on Instagram. Furthermore, if you are interested in getting involved in the work of Active Minds, please reach out to Cooper Pahl at cpahl@regis.edu.
If you or someone you know is having a mental health crisis, please contact Colorado Crisis Services at 844-493-8255.
