It’s not easy being a student these days.
Student’s mental health is a growing issue and one that needs to be addressed.
While schools are overburdened and often underfunded to meet the challenges students face today, they remain a vital gathering place where adults can address and support their needs.
I moved from New York to Boulder, Colorado, a few years ago and was fortunate to meet Allison Billings, Executive Director of Impact on Education. Impact on Education is a non-profit association that supports the staff and students in providing funding and resources to meet critical needs and eliminate opportunity gaps for students and teachers.
I recently spoke with Allison about what Impact on Education is doing to address students’ escalating mental health crisis. What she shared with me is so bold and successful that I wanted to share it with all of you, hoping it may inspire other districts to copy their program.
Impact on Education and Boulder Valley School District opened six high school Wellness Centers in response to the growing need for youth mental health support. These centers provide a haven for students. They tracked 2,500 visits within the first month of the school year.
BVSD’s Wellness Centers are designed as warm and inviting spaces, featuring soft lighting, relaxing music, flexible seating, and sensory activities like fidget toys, puzzles, and kinetic sand. But the most essential part of each Wellness Center is the mental health professional, a Mental Health Advocate, who supports each student who walks through the door.
“The goal of our Wellness Centers is to provide safe and accessible spaces on school campuses that offer mental health support and promote social-emotional wellness,” says Dr. Rob Anderson, Superintendent of Boulder Valley School District. “The challenges our high school students face today are more complex than ever. These Wellness Centers are an effective and proactive component of the support we can provide during the school day.
Students have described the Wellness Centers as “cozy cafes,” praising the ambiance as a quiet escape from the stresses of school. Some say their Wellness Center feels special to them, and they are torn between telling everyone how welcoming it feels to relax in the room and wanting to keep it a secret.
Impact on Education and BVSD has partnered with the Renée Crown Wellness Institute at the University of Colorado Boulder to evaluate the Wellness Centers. Through surveys, observations, and Wellness Center check-in and check-out forms, the Institute will analyze data to help evaluate the use and operations of each Wellness Center. The evaluation is intended to support ongoing programmatic improvements, determine best practices, and provide a holistic view of how wellness centers can support students’ emotional health and well-being.
BVSD’s commitment to youth mental health reflects the growing importance of promoting student well-being and resilience. “We’re funding these Wellness Centers because we believe they’re powerful tools for supporting our youth and helping them thrive,” says Allison Billings. “BVSD is setting an example for other school districts to follow.”
These spaces offer students a safe place to relax, refocus, and access professional mental health support, providing a much-needed reprieve from the stresses of school and actively working to destigmatize mental health challenges.
I encourage you to read more about these innovative Wellness Centers in our community that offer a beacon of hope and foster emotional well-being among our youth.
I hope your school district has such spaces in place, and if it doesn’t, feel free to share this article with them.
