Busy college students disregard it. People who dislike their jobs ignore it. However, a new club on campus believes there are ways to achieve happiness.

Active Minds, a club created in October, introduces students to positive psychology, a way of treating patients with motivation instead of medication. By using research on positive psychology, Active Minds introduces students to how they can achieve a happier lifestyle.

The club was started to bring mental well-being and happiness to a stressed Chapman community, said junior Lindsey Clopp, an Active Minds member.

Instead of focusing on the ails of the human mind, positive psychology focuses on positive thinking to create a more fulfilling life.

“We wanted to have [a club] more about taking care of yourself rather than scaring people with suicide rates,” said Clopp.

Active Minds held its first event on Tuesday, Nov. 18, in the Henley Basement. Twenty-five students released mental stress by making collages with images that made them happy as a form of artistic expression.

The club currently has 12 members and was started by senior Kyle Kermott, a psychology major and president of the club. Because of his interest in positive psychology, he wanted to give students an opportunity to discover ways to improve their mental well-being.

“It’s not as intimidating as going to a counselor,” said Kermott.

Dani Smith, director of PEER and Health Education, thinks Active Minds is a good program because it can help students to become more motivated.

“Anything that helps a student work, live, love and play in a more effective way is something they should look into,” she said.

Junior Dalia Auerhahn thinks that students often get caught up in the busy college lifestyle, but the Active Minds event helped her relax, she said.

“Students tend to go through the motions and never stop for things that truly make them happy,” she said.

Active Minds plans to center future events on studying different forms of psychology including mental, emotional and physical forms of self-expression, said junior Danny Pugh, a member of the club.

In addition to holding events and providing information, Active Minds focuses on being a resource for students who wish to learn more about mental disorders such as anxiety, anorexia, suicide or depression.

If students are conscious about improving their mental health, but are not comfortable going to Student Psychological Counseling Services, Active Minds can provide them with tips and motivation, said Pugh. They do not, however, act as counselors, he said.

“We can help people take 15 minutes out of their day to relax if that’s what makes them happy,” said Pugh.

However, Kermott worries that some students might not attend meetings or events because they may not feel comfortable talking about psychological disorders.

“Going to [the] events is not admitting that something is wrong,” he said.

Although Active Minds is new at Chapman, Pugh believes that it can be used to remind people that everyone deserves good mental health, even in the most stressful times.

“Just because you’re feeling OK doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to be feeling your best,” said Pugh.


Contact this reporter: shana.makos@thepantheronline.com