United Way, Unum And Hamilton County Schools Celebrate Partnership Creating Calm Spaces For Youth Mental Health

  • Monday, January 13, 2025
United Way of Greater Chattanooga, Hamilton County Schools, and Unum Group have been working together since 2023 to help create calm spaces for local students "to bridge the mental health gap in the region." 

Officials said, "Tennessee ranked 50th in access to care for youth and more than two-thirds of Tennessee youth with clinical depression go untreated, according to the Tennessee Department of Education. Due to this, and thanks to funding from the Unum Healthier Communities Grant, these three partners have created calming rooms and spaces for area students to access whenever they need a break.
Last Thursday, Red Bank High School unveiled their recently renovated Student Support Office, providing a new calming room for their students.  
 
"The newly unveiled Student Support Office at Red Bank High School was once a lounge area with gray walls and a few chairs; now it is an inviting, cozy nook for students to retreat to. Painted with calming blue tones and complete with comfy couches, a beverage station and dim lighting, the new office space creates a peaceful, set-apart room for students to take a break in. Conveniently, the office is also located near the school counselors' offices, making it easy for students to find the resources they might need."   
 
Lauren Bruce, student support coach at Red Bank High School, said “At Red Bank High, we are committed to holistic well-being; empowering our students to recognize when they are feeling escalated and to know how to respectfully manage those feelings to get back on track. This renovated space will help with that. It is such a gift to see this space utilized daily by a beautifully diverse collection of students from all 4 grades with vastly different personalities. We are endlessly grateful to have generous neighbors who invest in the well-being of our students.” 
 
This room was revamped thanks to community volunteers, United Way staff, and United Way’s Emerging Leaders. You can see before and after photos here.
 
This project series launched in April 2023 when a calm room was created at Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts. Following that, artist Dannita Noble helped renovate a hallway and locker room at Orchard Knob Middle School, and then artist Jerome Foster designed and painted a ‘Calm Corner’ at East Brainerd Elementary High School. The recent renovation of the Student Support Office at Red Bank High School is the fourth in this series of projects, all dedicated to creating more nurturing and functional spaces for students in Hamilton County schools.   
 
Officials said, "This partnership reflects the shared commitment of United Way of Greater Chattanooga, Hamilton County Schools, and Unum Group to build a healthier community for local youth." 

"We are very proud to partner with the United Way of Greater Chattanooga and enhance school spaces that bolster student mental wellbeing,” said Rachel Hargis, corporate social responsibility manager at Unum Group. “A critical component of our giving focus is to provide equitable opportunities for students to thrive. We hope this updated space will bring a calming sense of serenity to the students, faculty and staff at Red Bank High."  
 
"By enhancing mental health support across Hamilton County Schools, these projects help bridge the regional gap in mental health services and ensure that more students have access to the tools they need to thrive," officials said.
Student Scene
Chattanooga Native Lily Fridl Earns Deans List Honors At University Of Tampa
  • 2/12/2025

Lily Fridl, of Chattanooga, earned dean's list honors at University of Tampa for the Fall 2024 semester. Fridl is a Senior majoring in History BA. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.75 or higher ... more

Chattanoogans Among Recent Mississippi State Graduates
  • 2/12/2025

Approximately 1,500 students are on the fall 2024 Graduation List at Mississippi State University. Students who graduated in December include: Caleh Kizer, of Chattanooga. Kizer received the ... more

GNTC’s Singletary To Appear On Podcast
  • 2/12/2025

Dr. Kristy Singletary, dean of General Education at Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC), will be featured on the Silver Lining for Learning podcast on Saturday, Feb. 15, at noon. ... more