Dan Como, principal of Pleasant Hills Middle School, was skeptical the first time the idea of Allegheny Health Network’s Chill project was presented to him. The school had tested numerous models of mental health assistance, but none seemed to affect the students’ lives.
Despite the doubt, the school was the first to incorporate the Chill Project into one of its classrooms.
In operation since 2019, Pleasant Hills Middle School’s chill room has worked to help its students through the trials and tribulations of adolescent life, deeming it to be the “best in class.”
Upon the five-year anniversary of the project, Clearview Federal Credit Union provided the school with a donation of $20,000, which helped to transform the room into a complete sanctuary to uphold its goals.
“As part of what we have on our site, ‘when you succeed, we succeed,’ and we truly do mean that,” said Lisa Florian, president and CEO of Clearview.
Having opened a new location in Southland Shopping Center, Clearview wanted to grant the donation as a positive way of becoming a part of a new community.
The updated room was revealed on May 29 to AHN representatives and IKEA Pittsburgh workers who assisted with the latest additions.
“Middle school is just such a difficult time for kids,” West Jefferson Hills School District superintendent Janet Sardon told audience members at the unveiling. “We have created a space here that is not only better for the students in the intermediate, but it’s better for them in the long run because we are teaching them things that make a difference today, tomorrow and forever.”
The room started with bare walls, a few library tables, comfortable chairs and a wooden tree for students to sit in.
Now the room possesses a whole different look with bookcases, a nook in the corner with a couch and a faux fireplace, tranquil décor and updated tables and chairs.
The Allegheny Health Network Chill Project is a school-based mindfulness program that provides behavioral health support for students and staff, according to a news release.
The project has expanded to 42 Western Pennsylvania schools and served more than 50,000 students since it was founded by William Davies in 2019.
Students can learn coping mechanisms, address concerns and access school-based therapy, according to Davies.
“Part of this is normalizing the discussion around mental health,” Davies said. “We want it to get to a point where folks are talking about their mental health concerns the same way they talk about their physical concerns.”
Shelly Meier, the behavioral health school educator from AHN, is present in the Chill Room Monday through Friday ready to help students and staff who need it.
Meier said the renovations provide a more grown-up space for the students, which also becomes more welcoming to teachers.
“Sometimes [students] come in and they’ll say ‘Do you mind if I just do some work in here, the classroom is really loud,’” Meier said. “Or I love when they say it’s not as bright in here.”
Como explained that the room provides a safe environment for students to talk about their feelings and teaches them that it is normal to ask for help.
“I see a difference on a daily basis with kids,” Como said.
The school now has close to 50 kids in school-based therapy. Como said this resource is beneficial because students do not have to leave the building to receive treatment.
Behavioral health therapist Mackenzie Forsythe is available five days a week for students.
“They can get their therapy session in even while the drama is going on or whatever the anxiety is at that moment,” Forsythe said. “We can talk through it, process it and kind of move forward.”
Sixth-grade students Olivia Machi and Anna Rosiek said they noticed that the Chill Room is important for kids who have anxiety or those who have trouble at home.
“If people don’t like to talk they can go to Shelly, so they don’t have to talk about it in public,” Machi said.