Since the opening of the Wellness Center (WC) in 2021, students have utilized the space to take a break from daily stressors. Students are allowed to leave class to talk with the WC counselor and coordinator, Rebecca White, take a quiet moment, or partake in a relaxing activity such as journaling.
The WC has a variety of resources including student focus groups and lunchtime activities such as meditation groups, indoor and outdoor crafts, and sessions with therapy dogs.
Although the WC offers other various support systems and tools, the resources that remain the most popular are using the space to take a break and scheduling a one-on-one with White.
“I see straight-A students, students who may be failing or dropping a lot of classes, and from all kinds of backgrounds and life experiences,” White said.
Monte Vista provides the WC with a budget for materials used day to day. Additionally, the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) and parents have contributed donations. As the WC grows, it has been able to offer more services, including specialized workshops and outdoor activities.
Recently, the WC has reached out to parent groups at Monte Vista requesting Amazon wish list donations for supplies. While the WC does carry hygiene products for students such as shampoo, toothpaste, and deodorant, the majority of the requested items are snacks. Are students eating at the WC because they are hungry, or is it merely stress eating?
“I wouldn’t say that it’s a representation of something unhealthy. Students are busy and it’s hard to make sure that you eat in the morning, so they may come in here at break to get a snack,” White said. “Food helps meet a bodily need if we are feeling something emotionally. It can help to hydrate and have a snack just to feel better.”
White explained that students benefit from having access to these resources. However, due to funding and district wide budget cuts, some may wonder what these supplies will look like going forward.
“I am concerned because the current proposed cuts do involve a lot of mental health professionals. WC is still supposed to exist in the future, but what they offer could change based on staffing availability and where the energy and time needs to go,” White said.
Mental health in high schools is more talked about following the COVID-19 pandemic. The WC is aiming to shift the traditional stigma of discussing mental health to uplifting students of the Monte Vista community.
