Active Minds President Wins Award
Becky Gordon (CAS’10) receives Student Mental Health Advocate Award
Mental health advocate Becky Gordon (CAS’10) is one of two students who received the Student Mental Health Advocate Award, presented at the annual Depression on College Campuses Conference. Sponsored by the University of Michigan’s Depression Center, the award recognizes Gordon’s efforts as president of Active Minds, a student group promoting mental health. She was nominated for the honor by peers, faculty, and counseling staff.
“I really feel like I got this award because of all Active Minds at BU has achieved this year,” she says. “We have a core of dedicated members that have taken a fledging student group and turned it into an incredible organization.”
Active Minds works to make the University community aware of mental health issues and to create a safe campus where students feel comfortable seeking mental health help.
Criteria for winning the award include the applicant’s impact on his or her campus community by promoting student mental health services and working to reduce the stigma of depressive illnesses.
“The best thing about this award is the fact that it draws attention to these issues,” says Gordon, who plans to go on to graduate school to earn a master’s in social work. “The student advocacy award shows how we as students can change the way we view and discuss mental health issues.”
The latest Active Minds project is BU Secret, an undertaking that had members distribute blank postcards at dining halls and in dorms inviting students to submit anonymous secrets. The postcards are on display now at the Warren Towers, West Campus, and Myles Standish dining halls. Active Minds is hosting a BU Secret Concert at 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 3, at BU Central.
Anna Webster can be reached at annaweb@bu.edu.
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