Active Minds Leads More Minds: Mental Health on the Rise, Goals in sight.

Active Minds welcomes new members, continues raising awareness of mental health and steadily moving closer to reaching its goals. 

The club has grown from six to 10 members this year, hosting events and spreading mental health awareness already this year. Members aim to inform students on mental health while increasing participation in school activities like Red Ribbon Week. 

“I joined Active Minds because I want to understand mental health … for myself and my friends,” Annabelle Decker said. 

Many new members are very interested in what this club has to offer. They hope to increase the ability to spread awareness throughout the community and school. Just being in the club helps understanding what could be done for yourself and peers. 

“To help others understand how mental health is a part of our lives and that it is a normal thing to deal with,” Decker said. 

To her the goal is to encourage people’s interest in taking care of themselves. Especially in high school students who generally forget that it’s not just physical health like getting enough sleep that is necessary but taking breaks and setting boundaries with friends are a must.

“Next week, we plan to simulate drunk goggles during lunch,” Decker said. 

These goggles simulate the disorientation of being drunk, while wearing them students will attempt to complete a field sobriety test. This demo will spread awareness of drunk driving, and Red Ribbon week alcohol, drug and tobacco prevention.

“I’ve learned a lot about respecting ourselves and others, the origin of Red Ribbon Week, and ways to create community with people you just met,” Decker said. 

Red Ribbon week was created to honor DEA special agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena who was killed preventing drug trafficking. The program is now the longest and largest running drug awareness and prevention initiative in the U.S. Active minds hopes to continue its work throughout the year and grow club participation.