How One Member Turned Her Passion for Mental Health into Impact
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in honor of that we are excited to highlight one alumna who is turning her passion for mental health advocacy and awareness into national impact.
Carson Thorpe, Alpha Delta (U of Alabama), currently serves as a National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Next Gen advisor for the 2026 cohort. In this role, she trains law enforcement on how to respond to mental health calls, teaches Mental Health First Aid, and connects with policymakers to ensure young voices are heard.
Carson’s journey with NAMI first began in high school when she lost a loved one to suicide. NAMI stepped in and helped her turn that grief and heartbreak into advocacy and connection. She later interned with her local NAMI affiliate — one of over 650 across the country — creating digital content and lending a hand whenever necessary.
After graduating from the University of Alabama in May 2025, a full-time position opened at NAMI Southeast Louisiana. In this role, Carson works directly with law enforcement to train them in how to respond to mental health calls, instructs Mental Health First Aid classes, and heads all of the youth and young adult (YYA) programming. Additionally, she works with the different departments at NAMI National to help shape YYA programming across the alliance.
Carson credits AOII and her Alpha Delta sisters with motivating her to pursue this passion, despite not necessarily being related to her degree in Communication and Information Sciences.
“Speaking with alumnae at Camp M.A.S.H. (Make Arthritis Stop Hurting) about how important it is to talk about mental health struggles, especially as early intervention with teens and adolescents, pushed me to realize this was my calling,” Carson shared. “I went home after that week and officially accepted my full-time position.”
Carson has attended Camp M.A.S.H. the last two years as a counselor and plans to do so again this summer. In her own words, “it’s the best week of the year!”
“Mental illness and arthritis are both invisible disabilities and can feel extremely isolating,” Carson continued. “We spoke specifically about the work I did as Director of Chapter Culture, giving presentations on mental health topics, and how much I wished I could incorporate that into my professional life. I was still unsure about what I wanted to do post-grad, and their outpouring of love and support for the volunteer work I was already doing reassured me that this was needed. I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Communication and Information Sciences, so I had a lot of impostor syndrome surrounding educating community members (and law enforcement). But they helped me realize the value in sharing lived experience [and how I could make a difference.]”
Carson says the professional and life skills she gained from serving as Director of Chapter Culture and Vice President of Membership Experience are tools she leans on every day in her role at NAMI.
“Managing a budget, understanding interpersonal communication, and creative problem-solving set me up for success in my professional career,” Carson expressed. “I was even able to give presentations to the chapter about various mental health-related topics, which directly translates to my day-to-day responsibilities.”
Carson understands better than most how common it is for college students to struggle with their mental health. As someone navigating recovery with mental illness in college, having a support system was vital in Carson taking care of her mental health. Alpha Omicron Pi became an integral part of this support system.
“I was fortunate to have sisters who didn’t shy away from conversations about well-being, but I know many college students feel isolated, especially when coming from out of state,” Carson said. “No one should feel afraid or ashamed to talk about mental health. Mental health challenges and/or crises can be extremely scary, and incorporating your sisters into a safety plan can help ease the burden you may feel.”
And she’s not alone. A new national survey shows that the rates of depression and anxiety among college students are at historically high levels, and more college students than ever have said they are contemplating suicide. More than 90,000 students across 133 U.S. campuses participated in the survey, and the following was discovered:
- 44 percent of students reported symptoms of depression
- 37 percent said they experienced anxiety
- 15 percent said they were considering suicide — the highest rate in the 15-year history of the survey.
Meanwhile, on-campus counselors who provide mental-health care to students are overwhelmed. In 2019, 90 percent of counseling center directors reported an increase in students seeking services. Most wellness centers have waiting lists of several weeks to see an in-person counselor.
Carson admits that, like so many, she felt scared to talk about her struggles with anxiety, depression, and eating disorders openly, especially with her AOII sisters, but once she did she felt completely supported and reassured.
“My AOII sisters were (and still are) the ones I turned to when life gets hard. They didn’t shame me for telling my story; they celebrated me for having the courage to do so.”
If any collegiate or alumnae chapters in Southeast Louisiana are interested in setting up a Mental Health First Aid training or shortened presentation on a mental health topic of your choosing, please reach out! You are not alone. If you are struggling with your mental health and need guidance, you can call or text the Suicide and Crisis Hotline at 988. Go to www.nami.org to find an affiliate near you or explore all the free resources NAMI has to offer.
We are so proud to celebrate Carson and the impact she’s making in the mental health space, particularly in the higher education space. She is a wonderful example of how AOII sisterhood inspires ambition.
Know a sister making a difference? Email us at aoiionline@alphaomicronpi.org.
