The Wellness Center is a program within the Truckee Tahoe Unified School District (TTUSD) designed to provide a comfortable and safe environment for students, as well as improve their mental health.
The Truckee High School Wellness Center is a small classroom in room 118, near the West Wing. Antja Thompson, the Truckee High School Wellness Center Specialist, keeps the room lit through the wide windows and her many warm-colored lamps. The space is decorated to keep it as inviting as possible, with a couch and multiple lounge chairs.
There are cabinets, shelves, and boxes filled with crafting supplies. In the corner is an area to snack or make tea, with a microwave and minifridge. In the cabinets are also discreet feminine hygiene products for any student.
Why was the Wellness Center Created?
The Wellness Center wasn’t always in our school; it was created in 2012 as a response to a mental health crisis in the district.
According to the Sierra Sun, during the 2012 to 2013 school year, “three current or former students associated with Tahoe Truckee Unified School District schools have committed suicide.”
This prompted the district to search for ways to improve students’ mental health: to avoid events like this from taking place again. Some of these strategies included “What’s Up? Wellness Checkups” to screen for suicidal traits in students, and the creation of the Wellness Center.
The Wellness Center began in TTUSD High Schools, starting with Truckee and North Tahoe as a space for students to process issues such as friendship drama, academic stress, and loss.
In an interview, Thompson said that at first the Wellness Center didn’t have consistent staff, being attended by different people each week. However, they eventually hired a full-time “Wellness Center Specialist”.
Antja Tompson and Truckee High’s Wellness Center
Thompson was hired with this title in 2020 at Truckee High School. This was her first job focusing on mental health, but she had worked multiple jobs centered around education and enrichment. She received a bachelor’s degree in Human Biology at Stanford University and a master’s degree in Education and Human Resources at Colorado State University.
At Truckee High School, Thompson assists with social dynamics between students, self-advocacy, anxiety support, and general well-being.
Students often come in for snacks, self-regulation, or organizational skills. Thompson listens to students’ stories and doesn’t always ‘fix’ their problems, but tries to provide them with the resources and headspace they need to handle the situation. According to Thompson, “There’s a lot of things that support how you navigate [academics] that set you up for life.”
Any student can come in during break, lunch, or after school. If needed, they can also ask their teacher to leave during class and take a break in the Wellness Center, where Thompson will email their teacher. The goal of a class time visit is to regulate and return to class, without spending more time than the student thinks they need.
Thompson doesn’t just wait in the Wellness Center for students in need; she also advises clubs. Pride Club, Hope Squad, and Link Crew are some organizations that run out of the Wellness Center. SMART Recovery is another student-oriented organization that is hosted in the Wellness Center, though it isn’t facilitated by Thompson.
The Wellness Center is an attempt to improve the district students’ mental health and provide the resources they need to cope and regulate. As Thompson says, “You can come here when you don’t know where else to go.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing a suicidal crisis or emotional distress, call or text 988 for 24/7 support.
