SCHOOL NOW HAVE A PLACE TO GO TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. KCCI OPHELIA JACOBSON IS IN AMES TO SHOW US HOW STUDENTS ARE USING THE SAFE SPACE. THE END OF A SCHOOL YEAR CAN CAUSE A LOT OF STRESS AND ANXIETY FOR STUDENTS, BUT LUCKILY FOR KIDS HERE AT AMES HIGH SCHOOL, THERE’S NOW A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN GO TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR BRAIN HEALTH. LUNCHTIME IN A SCHOOL CAFETERIA CAN GET NOISY, AND EVEN IN THE LIBRARY, THE PRESSURES OF THE SCHOOL DAY CAN BE OVERWHELM CALMING. BUT WHAT IF THERE WAS A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS COULD GO TO GET AWAY FROM ALL THAT NOISE? WE REALLY WANT THE KIDS TO BE ABLE TO COME IN THIS ROOM AND FEEL LIKE THAT. THEY’RE HAVING A SAFE SPACE TO GO TO. ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL NICOLE PATTON SAYS THEIR NEW BRAIN HEALTH RETREAT ROOM IS THAT PLACE. IT’S OPEN EVERY SCHOOL DAY FROM 750 TO 330. STUDENTS CAN WALK IN FOR 15 MINUTES AT A TIME TO WORK THROUGH WHATEVER THEY MAY BE DEALING WITH. THEY TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM MY BOYFRIEND BROKE UP WITH ME, RIGHT TO I HAVE A PLAY AND I HOPE I REMEMBER MY LINES. A COUNSELOR IS ALWAYS IN THE ROOM TO HELP. THERE’S ALSO BOOKS, WORKSHEETS, POSTERS AND COLORING PAGES FOR STUDENTS TO USE. WE INTENTIONALLY HAVE A TABLE WHERE THEY CAN SIT DOWN AND BE TOGETHER. WE DO HAVE A SITTING AREA IN A FAMILY ROOM, SO IF THE COUNSELOR NEEDS TO COME AND HAVE A CONVERSATION, THERE IS A COMFORTABLE SPACE TO DO IT. THE ROOM OPENED IN OCTOBER. PATTON SAYS COVID WAS A DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE IDEA. WE SAW THIS HIGH ANXIETY COMING IN HIGH DEPRESSION, LIKE JUST COMING INTO OUR SCHOOL, THE SCHOOL SAYS. 72 STUDENTS VISITED THE ROOM. A TOTAL OF 145 TIMES IN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS. THE ROOM IS FUNDED BY BRAIN HEALTH NOW, AN ORGANIZATION THAT WANTS TO END THE STIGMA OF MENTAL ILLNESS. THE SCHOOL HOPES TO ADD A COUPLE OF MORE FEATURES TO THE ROOM AHEAD OF ITS HARD OPENING AT THE START OF NEXT SCHOOL YEAR IN AMES. OPHELI