1-2-3-4—a senior tries to calm herself down, because that AP calculus test is really stressing her out, her friends won’t stop gossiping, and everything is just so loud.
She’s trying not to cry, not in front of anyone, but taking deep breaths and counting in front of others isn’t cutting it.
This is a reality many students face: being overwhelmed by anxiety and depression is something more common than most think, which is an important issue being taken seriously with the “Recharge Room.”
Founded in the fall of 2022 by guidance counselor Brittany Slagle after winning money from the “Simply Smart” and “Resilient School Communities” grants, “[the room] is a great place and unknown resource,” said Slagle.
Students can change the lights in the room, color in coloring books, journal, charge their laptop, and, most importantly, have a safe space to calm down without feeling judged or being overwhelmed by their surroundings.
Everything in the room allows students to “deescalate the feelings they have going on,” said Slagle.
But despite the room having existed for several years, many do not know of the resources offered inside, with the most important being the peace it provides.
“[Having positive] mental health is very important to be able to do school work and not become burned out,” said Senior Cora Tolbert, a frequent visitor to the room. “It can be seen as weak, but [the room] is a place to recover.”
Our school community is seeking to end the stigma around mental health, and the recharge room is just one step in making that change.
But it doesn’t end with the recharge room. Other students and faculty are also working to combat this stigma and advocate for mental health.
On Friday, Nov. 1, Student Council asked all students and staff to wear teal and purple to bring awareness to suicide prevention. They also placed posters around the school displaying the suicide hotline phone number and handed out stickers with the prevention logo.
While wearing t-shirts and handing out stickers is a simple act, it goes a long way in bringing attention to the ways one can prevent suicide and promote positive mental health.
Taking these small steps as a school allows those who are struggling to see that it is okay to take the big step of reaching out for help and that they are not alone.
Anyone who needs to reach out for help need not look any further than the back of their ID badge, which contains the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988.
Additionally, it contains numbers for Frontier Health Turning Point, a 24-hour walk-in crisis clinic in Johnson City. Turning Point’s phone numbers are (423) 926-0940 or 1-877-928-9062.
Students struggling with a crisis or who need support due to being bullied may also reach out to the Safe School Helpline at 1-900-418-6423.
