Decatur Education Foundation: Mental Health Resources (Student Center)

When the Decatur Education Foundation (DEF) asked students at Decatur High School what they wanted out of a student center, the message came back loud and clear: a safe place. Somewhere to get away from the demands of school, take a break with friends, or even reach out for help.

For the last five years, DEF has been committed to addressing students’ mental and emotional needs through Joe’s Fund—a behavioral health fund dedicated to the memory of a Decatur High School graduate who lost his battle with addiction. Thanks to your generosity through last year’s Be Rich campaign, we were able to donate to Joe’s Fund to help outfit Decatur High School with a new student center dedicated to the mental health of its students.

DEF worked with the high school to overhaul the old student space and create a place where students want to be. In turn, making it that much easier for them to access crucial mental health resources that they may not even realize they need. The space is now a casual, welcoming environment complete with dedicated rooms for one-on-one and group counseling, a clothes closet for students who need it, and quiet areas to relax and regroup.

There’s been an undeniable rise in the need for mental health resources over the last year—especially for teenagers. Thanks to your donation, DEF is now even better positioned to provide support and resources to students in our community.