Bettendorf High School is opening the first Brain Health Retreat Room in the Quad Cities with Edison Academy (alternative high school) to shortly follow!
BCSD continues to offer creative ways to collaborate with community partners to create supportive and safe spaces for students and staff well-being through grants, partnerships and awards. BCSD in collaboration with Brain Health Now, proudly announces the opening of two new Brain Health Retreat Rooms in the 24-25 school year at BHS and Edison.
A pioneering initiative designed to support student mental health and emotional well-being. This innovative offering reflects the districts commitment to providing proactive mental health support in the educational setting.
The Brain Health Retreat Room offers a safe, serene space where students and staff can learn self-regulation techniques, decompress, and receive targeted support from trained professionals.
The room’s design and operations were developed by Brain Health Now, a grassroots organization founded by Debi Butler with Claira Sieverding Kapraun, in collaboration with Gigantic Design and Lerdahl Interiors. This partnership also extends to local nonprofits and community organizations, including Project Rooted and Mindful Minutes for Schools, enhancing the resources available to students.
Brain Health Now is a grassroots organization dedicated to ending the stigma of mental illness. Brain Health Now believes the language we use shapes our perception, especially on brain health issues. The brain is an organ and it can get sick too. The words we use are powerful. Words matter! Like any other disease brain disease is not a choice.1 in 5 people have experienced a brain health issue in their lives — that’s over 600,000 Iowans. 60% of adults and 50% of youths between the ages of 8-15 avoid treatment or don’t ask for help with brain health issues. Brain health disorders are largely misunderstood and misrepresented and we need to reframe how we talk about them. We need to treat brain health issues with the same regard and care the same way we treat heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other physical diseases. BHS is collaborating with this incredible organization in an effort to support all staff and students in well-being. For more information on this incredible movement check out - brainhealth-now.org
