While the stigma of mental health is alive and well, more companies are creating awareness and starting meaningful conversations around mental illness.
Big Moods is a company founded by college students that designs and produces vinyl laptop stickers. Their founder Andy Rexford initially started the Twitter handle @CollegeStudent, which grew to over two million followers over several years. At this time, he started looking for a product that would resonate with his peers while also supporting a good cause. This led to a mental health awareness sticker line, with a portion of profits going to support the organization Active Minds. The hope of Big Moods is to combine high quality stickers to tell a story while promoting mental health advocacy in colleges.
Mental Health and College Students
One in four young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 have a diagnosable mental illness. That’s a staggering number, especially considering the stigma around mental health. A common tendency for people struggling with mental illness is to close off and hide their situation from others. The goal of Big Moods and Active Minds is to remove the stigma around mental illness. In addition, they hope to create communication and resources for students around the country.
Who is Active Minds?
Active Minds is a national organization that supports young adult mental health advocacy and suicide prevention. Their founder Alison Malmon created the organization following the suicide of her brother Brian. “After my brother’s death, and knowing how preventable it was,” says Malmon, “I resolved — no matter what — to do something to change the way we approach mental health in this country.” She recognized that her brother’s story is the story of thousands of other young people who suffer in silence; who, despite their large numbers, think they are alone.
Malmon went on to create an organization that focused on eliminating the stigma. She provided opportunities for students to seek out help. Students in need of someone to talk to or other mental health resources are given guidance by volunteers. There are also opportunities to share and be heard, which is a powerful component to destigmatizing mental illness. Through this, they can connect people across campuses to help them thrive during this time of their lives.
Supporting Mental Health
One way to support Active Minds and their work is through purchasing stickers from Big Moods. Through the sales of these mental health awareness stickers, you’re helping to continue and grow a program that is changing the conversation around mental health.
