MENTAL HEALTH DONATIONS IN NORTH DAKOTA

In early 2020, we became aware of the urgent need to provide teachers and schools with mental health resources. We launched our Room To Breathe project – a project that focuses on taking care of the mental health of teachers who, in turn, have a direct impact in shaping the mental wellbeing of many, many young children. The project also gives us a doorway into the schools to provide further mental health awareness, mindfulness training, and other initiatives to the students.

In partnership with local schools, OpenMIND is creating spaces within these schools exclusively for teachers. The room provides an immersive, multi-sensory experience designed to decrease the physiological responses to stress. 

Part of the experience involves teachers enjoying a few moments to themselves in a luxury massage chair, accompanied by guided meditations or soothing sounds, dim lighting, and a little peace and quiet while soaking in the aroma of essential oils, which are known for their calming properties.

The project is already showing significant results. The uptake has been immediate and sustained, and teachers are showing measured stress level reductions. Teachers have noted how they are able to respond to their students with far more empathy and with more healthy approaches after time in the room.

Demand for these rooms has taken off purely by word of mouth, but the ability to implement them across North Dakota relies heavily on donations for mental health and school funding – which is not always readily available, particularly in less well-off regions (ironically, often where teaching is most stressful). Each one of these rooms costs around $5,500.

If you’d like to donate specifically to this cause, click the button below and mark your donation ‘RTB.’

If you know of a school that would be interested in this project, or would like to read more about it, visit the Room To Breathe project page.