Meet the Cumberland County High School Active Minds Chapter, a group in Crossville, TN, committed to showing their peers that “it’s okay not to be okay.”
With a goal to provide a safety net for their 1,000 students, they recently launched the “You’ve Been Bloomed” initiative, using carnations to visualize support and spark connection across campus.
From their first meeting with over 100 attendees to their monthly movie nights, check out how this chapter is ensuring no one has to face their battles alone.
Tell us about your school & chapter
Our school is Cumberland County High School and we are located in Crossville, TN. We have roughly 1,000 students on campus and our school is big on traditions and community, but at the same time deals with a lot of mental health needs.
We have 2 main goals: 1. To provide a safety net for our peers so that no matter what they are facing, they know that we will be here to help them. 2. Show everyone that it’s ok to not be ok and break the shame that clouds over mental health needs.
Share something your chapter has done recently that you’re proud of!
A few weeks back, we purchased over 100 carnations as a club and attached a note to them that said, “You’ve Been Bloomed! – The CCHS Active Minds Chapter wanted to let you know that you are loved!”
At our morning meeting, we discussed how much weight people carry and hide behind a smile every day. We talked about the youth depression and suicide rates and how 1 in 10 teens have seriously thought about or attempted to end their lives and then we counted out groups of 10 so they could put a visual representation to that statistic.
They were all tasked to take a carnation and hand it to a stranger, a friend, an adult, or anyone that crossed their path that day who looked like they could use a smile. It was absolutely amazing to see the flowers pass from person to person as the school day played out.
Some kept their flower because they were the person who needed it, and they took a 2nd one to hand out. Some took several because they had friends who were battling things at home, some still walk around with the note attached to their backpacks or taped to their Chromebooks, and all of them were excited to go and share some kindness.
‘Aaron Daenell — Active Minds & FBLA Advisor’
Do you have a favorite chapter memory?
“I loved giving flowers to help people not feel alone.”
Anthony — Member’
“My favorites are the movie nights we have together every month!”
‘Othniel — Member’
“My favorite so far was our 1st meeting of the year when over 100 kids showed up and wanted help others.”
‘Aaron Daenell — Active Minds & FBLA Advisor’
What’s a mental health mantra or a short piece of advice your chapter lives by?
Behind every strong person is a story that gave them no choice, and one day that story will be a survival guide for someone else.
‘Aaron Daenell — Active Minds & FBLA Advisor’
