(Batesville, IN) – Teen mental health concerns are on the rise nationwide, and the Batesville Community Education Foundation (BCEF) plans to make a local impact to stem the tide among public school students.
BCEF’s 2024 annual campaign proceeds will help the Batesville Community School Corporation (BCSC) convert two classrooms at Batesville High School (BHS) into a new student wellness center that will address both academic counseling needs and mental health issues such as anxiety and stress.
“We were shocked to find out from local survey data that, over the past few years, about one-third of all BHS students reported feeling sad or hopeless for at least two straight weeks,” shared Anne Wilson, BCEF executive director. “That’s at least 200 of our Batesville Bulldogs every year, so it’s not a small problem. When students struggle with mental health issues, academics often suffer right along with them. As the education foundation, our ultimate goal is to provide any resources that will positively impact the learning environment at our schools. Right now, helping BHS create this new space is a top priority.”
The counselors’ offices at BHS are currently located just inside the school’s front lobby where outside visitors also enter. This high visibility area makes it difficult for staff to provide discreet assistance to students who may be having a difficult time; it also deters some students from asking for help.
To address this issue, BCSC wellness coordinator Lisa Tuveson and BHS principal Andy Allen developed a plan to relocate the counselors’ office down the hall to two classrooms near the media center. These rooms would be completely reconfigured and remodeled to not only house the counselors’ office but also provide space for a stress management and resilience training lab (including a heart rate biofeedback program), a resource library for students, dedicated calming tools such as weighted blankets and stress balls, a meeting space, and a small private outdoor patio for fresh air if enough funds are raised.
“This change will lower an existing barrier to students in need of a resource or trusted adult,” explained Allen. “We value educating our students on confidence and independence. Providing more discreet accessibility to these resources will hopefully encourage them to take the initial step in seeking assistance.”
“The planned BHS wellness center is an innovative and holistic approach to student mental health and wellness,” added Sammie Hardebeck, BCEF board member and annual campaign chair. “In my role as Director of K-14 Initiatives at Ivy Tech, I work with teens every day and I see the need for a space for students to feel welcomed, comfortable, and safe—allowing them to self-regulate, reset, and meet with their school counselor in a more private environment. Also, the outdoor patio would allow students to step outside, take a deep breath, gather their thoughts, and get back to learning! I’m excited to see the community’s support for this new initiative.”
The center will provide targeted assistance for students who are struggling with a variety of issues impacting their ability to focus on their schoolwork and eventually offer proactive stress management skills for all students. As more students are trained to use the biofeedback program, they will hopefully be better equipped to manage stress and anxiety on their own.
“Some may say that these students just need to deal with it and grow up,” Wilson said. “We think that’s what they’re trying to do. The number of drastic societal changes these students have experienced during their childhoods is unreal. Even though technology and social media have become an enormous part of their world, they still need our help to grow into great adults. It’s not BCEF’s role to figure out how we got here, but we certainly can help them by supporting a dedicated place to learn the coping skills they need to deal with the world as it is.”
BCEF sponsor and architectural firm Fanning Howey donated a conceptual plan to BHS to help visualize the new space. Construction of the wellness center is due to begin soon, with funds from the BCEF annual campaign to support furnishings, resources, the biofeedback program, and the outdoor patio space.
Since 2017, BCEF has donated more than $315,00 toward flexible learning components at all four BCSC school buildings, including the outdoor learning complex at BPS, completed this summer.
In addition, BCEF funds vital programs at BCSC like classroom grants, the Art on Main community outreach initiative, career networking tools, and certification costs for Batesville High School students, as well as a BCSC staff support program.
To date, the total impact to BCSC from BCEF is valued at more than $700,000.
Donations to the BCEF Annual Campaign are requested by September 30 so the foundation can help BHS with its furnishings plans. Detailed plans for the project are available at the foundation’s website: www.BatesvilleEducationFoundation.org. A paper donation form is available for download or donations can be made online. Any questions can be directed to Wilson at [email protected].
(Batesville Community Education Foundation press release)
