On Wednesday, school officials, students, and community partners unveiled a new wellness center to support students’ mental and emotional well-being.
ATLANTA — One year after a shooting in the parking lot of Benjamin E. Mays High School left four students injured, the school community has transformed the tragedy into an opportunity for healing.
On Wednesday, school officials, students, and community partners unveiled a new wellness center to support students’ mental and emotional well-being. An unused classroom has been converted into “The Well,” a safe space designed to help students decompress, resolve conflicts, and focus on their social-emotional wellness.
Principal Dr. Ramon Garner said the idea for the wellness center came directly from students who wanted to reshape the school’s narrative after the tragic event.
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“They knew that what happened wasn’t a true depiction of who we are as a school,” he said. “So from that, they came to us with ideas. We wanted to hear our student voices.”
One of those students, Kaitlyn Johnson, highlighted the importance of the center.
“That’s why I’m so passionate about the wellness center. It will provide students with the same kind of guidance that shaped my journey, helping me take ownership of the well-being of my future,” she said.
The center features calming colors, comfortable furniture, listening stations for soothing music, reading nooks, and areas for student conferences and meetings.
Home Depot donated a $10,000 grant to Benjamin E. Mays High School to create the center, along with additional in-kind donations from organizations such as Communities In Schools and individual supporters.
After the shooting on February 14, 2024, social workers, counselors, and therapists noticed a growing need for emotional support among students. They said they saw an increase in students having frequent panic attacks, displaying the onset of depression, and even taking more days off.
Students will have access to 24 care team members, including social workers, counselors, graduation coaches, and behavior specialists, who meet weekly to assess student needs and provide necessary support.
“What we’ve already seen is just a decrease in infractions,” Dr. Garner said. “We’re helping to raise our students to be able to manage conflict, to be able to manage adversity.”
Authorities are continuing to address safety concerns in the wake of the shooting.
The 14-year-old student responsible turned himself in two weeks after the incident and was charged with multiple counts, including aggravated assault and possession of a firearm on school grounds.
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