A room at Milford High School known as the “Wellness Nest,” which is dedicated to students’ wellbeing, has been getting rave reviews. The effort has been spearheaded by Jen McNally, the director of Mental Health and Wellness for Educational Service Unit 5 in Beatrice.
McNally said the nest, which came about shortly after the beginning of the school year, helps normalize mental health therapy for the kids and sends the message that it’s OK not to be OK. This provides them with a comfortable, inclusive space where they can feel free to open up about their struggles.
“Before Jen was here, I never really did kind of speak out about my problems – I kept them to myself,” Milford senior Alec Shook said. “With Jen being here, she’s just really easy to talk to and really understanding, too.”
McNally said she has loved watching the students become more comfortable talking about mental health. The room sometimes has 15-20 students in it at a time.
“The kids love it,” she said. “It’s almost to the point where some teachers will be like, ‘You can’t be in there all day.’”
Shook said he often goes to the Wellness Nest to work on his online college class, because it is a nice place to be and he doesn’t have a specific classroom he needs to be in during that time. He also hangs out with friends there during lunch and goes there whenever he needs someone to talk to.
“It’s a fun place to hang out,” Shook said. “The door’s always open.”
Using her own money, McNally bought items the students wanted so they could decorate the room in a way that resonated with them. The students helped organize the decor, put the furniture together and hang up LED lights and quotes of their choosing. Students also bring in handmade art to hang up on the room’s ever-growing ‘art wall.’
“One thing I’ve been really proud of is how great Milford’s school board and their staff and administration has just embraced it,” she said. “Some of my ideas that are just off the wall they’re like, ‘let’s try it.’”
Students also submit quotes that are powerful to them to be posted on the Milford Public Schools Facebook page with their name and “#wellnessnest.” This adds a dose of positivity to viewers’ timelines and gives parents another opportunity to see their children shine.
“It’s good for the community to see that this is how kids see things, and that these are words that speak life to them and help them get through,” McNally said.”
McNally is at Milford High School for 1.5 days out of the week, because she also oversees 12 other school districts. The students always have access to the room during the times she is there, and they are allowed to use it during lunch and other times, if they get permission. The room is also used by the Teammates program.
The nest is part of a program called Wellness 4 All, which is made possible via a partnership with Memorial Hospital. The program also exists at Seward Public School and Centennial Public School.
“Every school should have a Jen,” Milford senior Hannah Schilz said.
Schilz said she believes it is important for schools to have programs like these, because they bring students together and improve students’ mindsets.
“I feel like we’re a lot kinder to each other, because we know some people are struggling,” she said. “I feel like a lot of people have gotten to get help that wouldn’t have before.”
Shook said he enjoyed participating in the program’s “Wellness Week,” which featured a special assembly and t-shirts with the phrase “You Belong Here.”
“There’s a lot more positivity around the school. Before, there were no mental health posters around the school, and now there’s stuff all over,” Schilz said. “Before, mental health problems weren’t really acknowledged in school, and now there’s help that you can get.”
