Three Falcons attended the Active Minds’ 11th National Mental Health on Campus conference at the University of Maryland at College Park from November 14 to November 16. The conference brought together hundreds of experts, change-agents and leaders from across the country to educate, energize and inspire the next generation of mental health advocates.

The psychology majors that participated included Jill Ricks, a senior from High Point, NC, Shaquitta Clark, a senior from and Anthony Battle, a senior from Rocky Mount, NC.

“I feel it is important that historically black colleges and universities get more involved in the conversation of mental health and help change the conversation,” Ricks said, the president of Saint Augustine’s University’s Active Minds organization. “Our chapter goal is to help decrease the stigma of mental health on our campus and in the community.”

Active Minds is the leading nonprofit organization that empowers students to speak openly about mental health in order to educate others and encourage individuals to seek help. Through campus-wide events and national programs, Active Minds aims to remove the stigma that surrounds mental health issues, and create a comfortable environment for an open conversation about mental health issues on campuses nationwide.