GREENSBORO, N.C. — Nov. 6-10 is National School Psychology Week, and in the mental health break room at the Academy at Smith, students can simply take a break. 

What You Need To Know

School districts around the state are adding mental health break rooms in their schools

Student’s aren’t allowed to use any technology in the mental health break room 

School psychologists create healthy and safe environments for students

“The break room, it’s a support group where kids can come in, they relax, they chill, they let go of their worries in their mind,” Anya Covington, a junior, said.

The space allows students to relax and not have to worry about anything for the 30 minutes that they’re in there.

Covington, along with other students, helped create this room for their peers.

“It just allows us to connect with the school, connect with our classmates and allow them to feel comfortable and give them a space that’s calm and collective and to take a break, because you never know what they’re going through and you never know what they got going on,” Covington said.

Dr. Robyn Ankney, director of psychological services for Guilford County Schools, said it’s spaces like this that help better serve students.

“It’s a quick way for students who get upset at school to come and access and try and kind of regroup and calm down and then reengage into that learning,” Ankey said.

Other districts are also working to create these mental health break rooms. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools unveiled a new calming room at J.M. Alexander Middle School.