Partnership with Active Minds launches new mental health campaign

Zeta Tau Alpha, along with Alpha Chi Omega, Pi Kappa Phi and Sigma Nu, created a partnership with Active Minds to launch a new nationwide mental health campaign. The campaign’s aims are consistent with ZTA’s mission and purpose, emphasizing a commitment to friendship and continued personal development, and the resources will help fraternity and sorority chapters facilitate an engaging and informative conversation about mental health with their fellow chapter members.

Given the statistics that 39% of students in college experience a significant mental health issue and 76% of young adults turn to a friend first when they are struggling with their mental health, ZTA and its partners recognize the importance of peer networks in supporting mental health. The campaign will play a vital role in better equipping the 61% of students who do not feel prepared to help a friend who is struggling.

“This collaboration is so timely and important,” said Zeta Tau Alpha National President Alicia Patten Williams. “Mental health is a crucial topic for collegians, and we’re proud to help prepare students to listen and support one another.”

A key component of the campaign is Active Minds’ active listening tool: Validate, Appreciate, Refer, or V-A-R. Explained through a combination of posters, discussion guides, social media interaction and an animated video, the V-A-R method provides collegians with an easy, tangible way to be there for a friend who may be having more than a bad day.

“With V-A-R, we hope to make clear that someone doesn’t need to be in a crisis to seek help, you don’t have to be an expert to provide help and help can come in many different forms,” said Alison Malmon, Executive Director and Founder of Active Minds. “Being there for someone in a moment of need is what it’s all about.”

Zeta Tau Alpha, together with our fraternity/sorority partners and Active Minds, is committed to changing the conversation about mental health.