Alison Malmon: Changing the Conversation About Mental Health on College Campuses
Sponsored by DBSA-NOVA and George Mason University
“No One Said a Word, No One Knew What to Say…” ~Alison Malmon
On a dark and stormy night last month at George Mason University in Fairfax, Alison Malmon delivered a powerful, heartfelt presentation on changing the conversation about mental health on college campuses. While a freshman cheerleader at University of Pennsylvania, Alison was compelled to speak up and speak out on mental health by a hellish odyssey that began when her older brother Brian lost grasp of his mind at Columbia University, returned to his family’s home in Potomac, Maryland and then lost his life by his own hand.
Transforming unspeakable grief into social action, Alison chose to honor the life of her funny, gifted brother by founding Active Minds on Campus, a group that engages high school and college students on the subject of mental health. Active Minds today is made of 114 college chapters across 34 states, Washington D.C. and Canada doing important, creative work to send silence packing. Alison announced that the group’s first high school chapter would be starting soon at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire.
Here is a link to the recap of Alison Malmon’s presentation at GMU:
http://www.dbsanova.org/news/Alison%20Malmon%20at%20GMU%20022708.html
A pdf formatted version is also available for download on the page.
Moira Wait.Board Member.DBSA NCA.
Jayson Blair.President.DBSA Northern Virginia.
