Mansfield ISD has cut the ribbon on a therapeutic room at Timberview High School. Students can sign up for 15 minute blocks in the room if they need time away from stress during the school day.
In October 2021, a student started shooting in a classroom at Timberview, injuring three people. This summer, Timothy Simpkins, now 19, was convicted of three counts of attempted capital murder and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Mansfield ISD partnered with Methodist Mansfield and Cook Center for Human Connections to pay for the project.
"The Cook Center is proud to support schools across the nation that are dealing with the mental health crisis. As school leaders implement a variety of strategies to address mental health concerns in students of all ages, calm rooms are a powerful, research-backed tool to improve student well-being," CCHC Chief Executive Anne Brown wrote in a statement.
The calm room at Timberview is named, "Wolves Zen Den," after the high school's mascot. Mansfield ISD says the room is decorated with cool colors, and students can use a massage chair, sand garden and stress balls to deal with emotions. They can also use their 15 minute slot to draw or write.
The Cook Center says the calm room provides a "supportive, therapeutic environment where students go to focus on self-calming efforts and learn to self-regulate their bodies and their emotions." The organization cites research showing calming spaces have been proven to reduce negative behavior, create stronger relationships between students and staff, improve student learning and self-esteem and reduce stress.
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