Active Minds encourages open dialogue through secrets
The box was used to collect cards for Active Minds’ PostSecret U event. Active Minds is an organization on campus that is dedicated to promoting positive mental health. They host student panels and dinner discussions with mental health professionals, and they aim to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.
PostSecret U is a program that is put on through the national branch of Active Minds in conjunction with Frank Warren of PostSecret.
Warren created PostSecret in 2005 with a simple idea in mind: write down the deepest secret you’ve been afraid to share, and mail it to him. Every Sunday, Warren posts just a small portion of the postcards he receives on his website. The response has been overwhelming — thousands of cards have been received confessing secrets of all kinds.
This website is the basis for the PostSecret U event. The event lets students feel a sense of release from expressing their secret anonymously, but also can help them connect with others who may share the same feelings but also be afraid to express them.
“The ultimate goal of the event is to use the secrets submitted to see what isn’t being said on campus,” said Alexandria Leach ’14, one of the organizers for PostSecret U.
On May 24, the event culminated in a dinner discussion where the cards were displayed for campus members to view and discuss. Additionally, a dean was present to talk about the resources available regarding any issues that arose from the conversations.
After the event, the cards will be put in a display case in Collis. Secrets were hung in a display in Baker-Berry Library earlier in the term. However, PostSecret U organizers said they hope to address more issues that may be linked to mental health specifically.
Leach said that feedback so far has been incredibly positive. Many students express excitement over the project due to their experience with reading the PostSecret website. Over 30 cards have been received, ranging from light-hearted to very intimate.
This is the first time Active Minds is participating in PostSecret U. In 2009, however, the organization brought Warren to campus to speak, and the event was a huge success. Cards were collected prior to this event as well. Many of submissions expressed a theme of feeling inadequate at Dartmouth. It’s not yet clear if this theme, or any other, has arisen again this time around.
“We want to be able to, through these cards, address issues that people may not feel comfortable talking about with their name attached,” Leach said. “We hope to be able to direct people to the right resources, and really just provide a safe space to discuss tough issues.”
Jennifer Davidson ’15 is an avid animal lover who can generally be found watching funny videos of cute animals online, attempting to pet every random dog she sees on campus and forcing her roommate to watch aforementioned videos with her. She’s also interested in women’s issues, sustainability and book binding.