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School can be stressful...and sometimes, we all need a place to decompress. The students and staff at Robinson Secondary School definitely understand this, so their Rams Minds Matter club created the Calm Cafe! Rams Minds Matter is a part of the national organization of Our Minds Matter (OMM). This is a student-led club model in which teens are empowered to promote school-wide social connectedness, to encourage help-seeking behavior, and to develop coping skills via youth-led activities.  

The Calm Cafe is a place for students to go when they need a safe, calming space. It is located in the cafeteria, which is great for students who have free time at lunch and want to relax, as well as those students who find the cafeteria environment stressful. It is currently open three days a week during all five lunches, and staffed by school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers so students have someone to talk to if desired. If students would rather just hang out, the Calm Cafe has comfy chairs, calming lights, fidget toys, coloring books, motivational materials, and even OMM Self-Care Cards!

The Rams Minds Matter students worked hard to get this room up and running. They came in over the summer to paint and put up decorations. Their hard work certainly paid off as now every student at Robinson has the opportunity to take a break from the hustle and bustle of a big school and feel safe, calm, and supported.

Thank you to the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board and various other donors who made this space possible. 

If you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis, text HOME to 741741 to reach a crisis counselor, call 1-800-273-8255 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, or call 911.

The Healthy Minds Blog shares information related to youth mental health and wellness for an audience of parent, educators and community-based providers. Articles include tips and strategies for increasing wellness and resiliency, as well as fostering success at home, at school and in the community.

The Healthy Minds Blog is a collaborative project between Fairfax County Public Schools and the Prevention Unit of the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services. It is part of the Healthy Minds Fairfax (see below) initiative, designed to support emotional wellness in youth and families.

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