Molly Milota, Sophomore

I’m Molly Milota, a sophomore and English major at Marquette University. I got involved in Active Minds to help raise awareness about issues that are affecting college students right now. I have dealt with depression and suicide in the past and Active Minds has provided me with a way to reach out to others in the same, or similar situation.

In response to Kayla:

1. What are your thoughts about how today has gone so far?

I think that today has been wonderful. I am so thankful to be a part of this event. There were so many people who seemed very affected by it. The sheer number of backpacks and the stories with them have proved to be a very moving, powerful passive exhibit. It is so important to our campus this year, in helping us to heal.

2. Are you involved in Active Minds, if not what student groups on campus are you involved in?

I’ve been a part of Active Minds since I arrived on Marquette’s campus. I’m also very involved with the Residence Hall Association, which has been great for getting resources and information to residents.

3. What is your major and future plans?

I am writing-intensive English major. I plan to get involved in ESL programs and possibly work toward immigration law. I know that I want to work closely with diverse groups of people and stay within the non-profit realm.

Molly’s questions for the next chapter:

1. What was the most impactful moment about today?

2. What quote, mantra, philosophy, etc. do you seek to live out?

3. Has this even changed you? How do you plan to act?

Danielle Strauss, President and Junior

Hi! My name is Danielle Strauss and I am the president of Active Minds at Marquette. I am majoring in Psychology and double-minoring in Theology and Criminology. I became involved with Active Minds after one of Marquette’s counselors suggested I look into it and learn more. After losing my boyfriend’s dad by suicide I really wanted to reach out to others and help them through times of struggle and difficulty.

In response to Will:

1. How do you attract and keep new members?

We try to really involve new members and give them ways to really feel a part of the organization and give them opportunities to feel like they are making a difference.

2. What’s the coolest event you have hosted?

Send Silence Packing! By far this was the coolest event of our Active Minds chapter, at least since I’ve been on board. We loved adding this event and reaching out to our campus community.

3. Do you have any cool digital tools (website tricks, etc.) that you use?

Being a new chapter, we really only communicate electronically via email and facebook. We did make our own email address, not using a board members, which helped us all communicate better with the club. Via facebook, we have our own group and make events and send messages to everyone we can- both facebook members and personal friends.

Danielle’s questions for the next chapter?

1. How long has your chapter been around and how have you developed it?

2. How have you seen Active Minds impacting your campus?

3. What programs work best/reach out to students most effectively?

Murphy Roscher, Junior

My name is Murphy Roscher. I am a junior Psychology major at Marquette University. I am originally from St. Paul, MN. I love watching basketball and I am an amateur stand-up comedian. I got involved in Active Minds as a sophomore when the chapter was started here on campus. I am interested in issues surrounding mental health mostly because I struggled with major depression as a junior in high school. By the time I was a senior, I was considering suicide. Luckily my family was comfortable talking about mental health and were able to get me the help I needed. When I heard about Active Minds, I knew I needed to join so that I could help make mental health issues something that is more talked about, so that others in my position will be able to get the help they need.

In response to Jon:

1. What motivates you to promote mental health?

My personal story motivates me, as well as the idea that there are people out there struggling with mental illness and they might not know, understand, or have support through these issues.

2. What was the most impactful to you about your Send Silence Packing event?

What was most impactful was seeing others react to the display. I am involved with these issues very closely, so it was great to see the impact the display had on people not well informed of these issues.

3. How do you plan to promote mental health in the future?

The best way I can think to promote mental health is to make sure I talk openly with people I encounter (especially with friends and family) about mental health. I promote mental health by the way I address it.

Murphy’s questions for the next chapter:

1. What was the most challenging part of Send Silence Packing?

2. If you could speak to someone in one of the personal stories, what would you say? About the event?

3. How do you promote mental health in everyday life?