Active Minds on Campus
March 22, 2010
Hosted by Mary Woods
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Guest Information
Episode Description
Alison Malmon is the founder and Executive Director of Active Minds, Inc., the only national organization dedicated to utilizing the student voice to raise mental health awareness on college campuses. Alison started Active Minds following the suicide of her brother, Brian, who had experienced depression and psychosis for three years while in college but had concealed his symptoms and not received the support he needed. On March 24, 2000, as Alison was wrapping up her freshman year at the University of Pennsylvania, Brian ended his life. Recognizing that few students were talking about mental health although many were affected, Alison wanted to change campus culture. She became dedicated to combating the stigma of mental illness by encouraging students to seek help at an early stage, and preventing future tragedies like the one that took her brother’s life.
One Hour AT A Time
Archives Available on VoiceAmerica Health and Wellness Channel
Recovery, whether it is from substance abuse or a mental illness, or both requires a treatment plan, which in many cases is as effective as treatments for other chronic illnesses. “One Hour AT A Time” will increase awareness about recovery and decrease the discrimination against individuals in the recovery process. Host Mary Woods, will help people understand the recovery of adults and families living with co-occurring substance use disorders and psychotic and/or affective illness over the course of a lifetime. Helping individuals develop the skills and knowledge they need to take personal responsibility for their health and supporting individuals in their efforts to get on with life beyond illness has been Mary’s mission and she now brings that mission to the airwaves.
Mary Woods
Mary is the CEO of WestBridge Community Services. She is also a Registered Nurse and a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor with more than 25 years experience in substance abuse services and community mental health programs. Mary has conducted extensive workshops and trainings with a primary focus in Motivational Interviewing, Stages of Change Theory and Integrated Treatment of Co-occurring Disorders. She is also a contributor to the development of the Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment Practitioners and Clinical Supervisors Workbook and Practice Demonstration Video. Mary was the Chairperson of the NH State Board of Licensing for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professionals. She has been a member of the NH Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselor’s Association since 1984, and has served as the Northeast Regional Vice President for the NAADAC, the Association of Addiction Professionals, President of NAADAC and is currently past president of NAADAC.
