By Arianna Chen and Walt Novosardian
Students use the Wellness Hub to destress with the many tools available in the space, as well as receive additional help from psychologist Caley Keene.
Many students who have mental health problems or anxiety have been benefitting from the new Wellness Hub, which allows 10 minute brain breaks during class to reset and receive help.
“Teachers have said that there seems to be a softer feeling to campus in general, knowing that we are here,” Wellness Hub psychologist Caley Keene said.
The purpose of the Wellness Hub is to give students a place to go when they are feeling overwhelmed.
“Students come in feeling distressed and they leave not distressed anymore, or at least knowing that there are resources for them,” Keene said.
Wellness Hub Navigator Audrey Whitten shared that getting the word out about the Wellness Hub has been a challenge.
“I definitely think it is an ongoing process though because we were able to go out to the ninth graders, but unfortunately we aren’t able to go to any of the other grades so I think there is a slow trickle of what we are about,” Whitten said.
The Wellness Hub has many different types of mental health resources, depending on what a student needs.
“We have all the coping tools in here like stress balls, brain breaks, and one-on-one counseling,” Keene said.
In addition to mental health support, the Wellness Hub offers other services for students.
“We have a care cart, which has a lot of sanitary products– hair brushes, toothbrushes, deodorant,” Keene said.
The Wellness Hub also hosts events for students.
“We have The Spahr Center coming in now and Q-Groups which is a support group for the LGBTQ+ youth on Tuesdays during lunch,” Whitten said.
As of right now, brain breaks have drawn in the students into the Wellness Hub.
“I think it’s hard because we don’t have a baseline since it didn’t exist last year, but I think for the amount of time that we’ve had, it has had a lot of students,” Keene said.
The Wellness Hub Club is in charge of all changes that happen to the Hub.
“Any changes that we make will come from students first,” Keene said.
Overall, with the opening of the Wellness Hub, Keene believes it has created a better campus environment.
“I think just knowing that there’s a place on campus that’s safe to cry or some quietness,” Keene said. “I know when I talk to students on a real level, and having an adult try to collaborate with you. This is a unique place for that.”
