How does a movement start? Is it with the help of a like minded community, coming
together in support? Is it after acquiring enough money to create something useful? Is it
when the message has finally been crafted? As Mayor Youth Council leader Danielle Leininger found out, a movement stems from one thing: a purpose.
Every year, the Indiana Peonies Festival comes to Noblesville in celebration of Indiana’s downtown community. The nonprofit group uses Indiana’s state flower, the peony, as a symbol to unite and inspire friend- ship, community, and appreciation for everyone around the state. This year, the Noblesville Mayor’s Youth Council plans to take this idea to a new level. With the help of student volunteers, the organization has set up booths around the Noblesville peony festival set for May 17th. They plan to spread awareness and support for a variety of topics. One of those booths, focused on mental health awareness, is ran by Leininger and has a large group of students ranging from freshmen to seniors focused on doing one thing: promoting mental wellness.
“The health and well-being group aims to make a meaningful impact on the discussion of mental health within our community,” Leininger said. “We want to let people know that if you’re struggling, it is OK to reach out and seek help.”
The encouragement to maintain a mentally healthy lifestyle is one of the group’s priorities for this year, and leaders like Leininger believe this is especially important among the demographic the mental health focus group is targeting. Counselor Craig Spinner believes that the teenage-to-young-adult stages are where most cases of mental illness are established.
“The biggest issue surrounding high-schoolers is stress management. For teens, so much stress is placed socially, academically, and emotionally. And with how underdeveloped their brains are, dealing with all this stress is very, very difficult,” Spinner said.
Members of the mental health focus group agree with the notion that teens struggle with maintaining with their mental wellbeing.
“What I’ve noticed being a part of this program is that many teens keep their problems to themselves,” Leininger said.
Being a part of the focus group, Leininger has seen and heard about student’s problems that have changed her perspective on mental health. She believes these stories are what motivate their cause.
“I’ve seen a lot of bad situations, but also a lot of good outcomes,” Leininger said. ”Our mission is handled with so much care, and it really puts into perspective what truly is important – people.”
In preparation for the peonies festival, The Mayor’s Youth Council has set themselves apart from other organizations through their collaboration with TagsToTap.TagsToTap is a wireless, interactive device that allows users to access content surrounding mental health support. Junior Elizabeth Norris is a volunteer that has noticed a positive experience while working with the company behind this product.
“TagsToTap is a really cool and unique brand that changes how people interact with mental health re- sources. Being able to have instant support on the go is incredibly helpful and a great use of modern technology,” Norris said.
Norris believes that the advanced technology used for TagsToTap works consistently and efficiently when used properly. Its variety -and its ability to cater to different items – made the product perfect for the group’s vision.
“TagsToTap works by attaching the tag onto different items to make them interactive. Our group specifically is selling bracelets with the tags attached,” Norris said.
While the group aims to do something good, the only way for it to be successful is if people participate. As Leininger says, the best way to spread awareness on mental health issues is to be active.
“Stay aware,” Leininger said. “If you’re struggling, be open about your experiences, and if you see someone struggling, be one of the people in our community spreading positivity. No act is too small.”
