A new wellness room at Brooke Point High School in Stafford, Virginia, was opened Oct. 2 as part of a partnership between The Jed Foundation (JED) and Macy’s. The room will provide students with a serene space to promote emotional well-being.
Volunteers from Macy’s transformed an unused school space into a wellness room with painted walls, brand-new furniture, cozy blankets, dim lighting, and a relaxing vibe.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was a surprise to the students, who were excited to explore the new space. The special event concluded with a deep-breathing exercise led by Brooke Point High School lead counselor Katrina Palyo.
Assistant principal Megan Stiffler said the room will be a respite for students. “Having a dedicated space where they can step back, focus on self-care, learn effective time management, and practice mindfulness is not only timely, but essential,” she said. “This moment is truly special for our school community, as we celebrate the opening of a space that will make a real difference in the lives of our students.”
Brooke Point High School is part of the JED High School program and a member of the inaugural pilot cohort of the JED and AASA District Mental Health Initiative. The school was selected for the wellness room project after a nationwide process.
Peter Dehoff, store manager at Macy’s Fair Oaks, said the new wellness room is part of his company’s social purpose platform Mission Every One, which aims to help youth navigate challenges. Macy’s invested approximately $20,000 and nearly 100 volunteer hours into creating the room.
“As students across America continue to struggle with increased anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges, having these dedicated spaces for students to unwind, connect with peers, and, if desired, talk with a dedicated mental health professional will allow them to develop positive practices they can use in other areas of their life,” said Ryan Bunts, director of High School Programs at JED.
In the summer of 2024, Macy’s hosted a six-week round-up and online donation campaign to benefit youth mental health nonprofits, including JED. The donation drive raised funds to support JED’s mission to protect emotional health and prevent suicide for teens and young adults nationwide. The campaign has raised more than $4.6 million since it began in 2022, more than $2 million of which has gone to JED.
As part of the collaboration with Macy’s, JED developed resources to make it easier for parents and caring adults to spot the signs of distress in young people and have the difficult yet necessary conversations to check in on them and connect them with support.
Explore the resources:
If you or someone you know needs to talk to someone right now, text, call, or chat 988 for a free confidential conversation with a trained counselor 24/7.
You can also contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741-741.
If this is a medical emergency or if there is immediate danger of harm, call 911 and explain that you need support for a mental health crisis.
