The Heard
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., United States | SELF
Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
"The program was exactly what we hoped for – engaging, personal, informative, and promoting good ideas about mental health and balance and help-seeking. We had a turnout of about 120 people, which was wonderful and beyond our expectations. She did a great job and was a lot of fun, and we enjoyed hosting her. This was a good experience for us - so… thanks!” - Staff RA Training Coordinator, Bowling Green State University
“She was extraordinary -- great delivery -- very honest, forthright and sincere in her delivery. Very, very powerful message.” - Faculty member, James Madison University
“From Jordan’s presentation I learned that suicide does not just affect those who have a serious mental illness, but the everyday adolescent, even the class president and star of the golf team.” - Student, James Madison University
“It was heartwarming to hear from someone else who has a history of mental health, but has survived and is able to exist normally in society.” - Fraternity Director
"I'm just writing to thank you...I felt so many parallels to your story in my own life...Day by day, sometimes hour by hour I keep fighting, it's nice to know that there is another side." - Anonymous Student
Discography
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Photos
Bio
Alison Malmon is founder and executive director of Active Minds, a national organization that uses students as the driving force to change the perception about mental health on college campuses. Her dedication to the fields of suicide prevention and mental health promotion began in 2001, a year after her witty, popular and Ivy-League educated brother, Brian Malmon, died by suicide when he was only twenty-two.
Convinced that the society's stigmatization of people with mental illness led to the death of her only sibling, Alison started a student group on her campus at the University of Pennsylvania to promote a respectful dialogue around mental health. Upon graduating in 2003, Alison knew the story was much larger than her own and saw the tremendous need for the student voice in efforts to address young adult mental health. As a result, she grew that student group into a nonprofit organization for which she serves as executive director and public speaker. In only seven years, Active Minds has grown to more than 260 campus-based chapters and is host to nationally acclaimed events and programs, including The Heard Speakers Bureau. Alison has spoken to thousands of young adults, mental health advocates, and leaders in the field.
PRESENTATION
Alison delivers a heart-warming and inspiring presentation that educates the audience on young adult mental health, provides practical information on protecting personal mental health as well as the mental health of family and friends, and encourages everyone to become involved in her growing movement to end the silence around mental health disorders.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Among numerous awards, Alison has been named a Person you Should Know by CNN, Woman of Distinction by AAUW and NASPA, and Citizen of the Year and Distinctive Alumnus from her hometown and high school. She has appeared on CNN, Good Morning America, and in Glamour Magazine, the New York Times, Newsweek, and others.
THE HEARD - DIVERSE TOPICS, DIVERSE SPEAKERS
Alison is just one of ten members of Active Minds' speakers bureau, The Heard: a group of dynamic and highly trained young adults (in their 20s) who share their personal mental health stories of struggle and triumph. Heard speakers have spoken to over a million young adults on hundreds of campuses nationwide. Through highly-relatable, engaging and appropriately humorous presentations, The Heard presenters tackle a diverse range of challenging topics including depression, suicide, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, family issues, coming out as LGBTQ, post traumatic stress disorder and more. Through personal story-telling, the presentations educate audiences on the signs and symptoms of mental health disorders, reduce stigma and encourage help-seeking.
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