Hey FEEST Fam,

We’re thrilled to share a new multi-page infographic created by our brilliant Student Organizers, titled “What Students Need on Campus.” This infographic sheds light on what our students truly need to thrive in their schools, based on insights gathered directly from over 300 students. Here’s a sneak peek at what they’ve discovered and how it could transform our schools for the better!

What We Did

FEEST Student Organizers created a survey aimed at understanding the mental health landscape from the students’ perspective. This wasn’t just any survey; it was crafted and distributed by students for students across multiple high schools in Seattle Public Schools and Highline School District. The goal? To uncover the key stressors students face and identify what supports they need to succeed academically and personally.

Why We Did It

Mental health is a critical issue for our youth today. By directly engaging with students, we wanted to:

• Understand and identify student needs.
• Provide a platform for students to voice their opinions.
• Destigmatize mental health issues.
• Ensure students realize they are not alone in their struggles.

This initiative is part of our broader campaign to improve mental health resources in schools and foster a supportive environment for all students.

Key Findings

Top Stressors for Students:

• Homework 
• Time Management
• Workload

Our survey gathered responses from over 300 students, revealing that these stressors significantly impact their ability to thrive in school.

Student Needs:

• Wellness Rooms: Almost half of the surveyed students resonated with the idea of having wellness rooms in their schools. These spaces are envisioned as safe havens where students can go to recharge, seek support, take care of their mental well-being, and access resources.
• Access to Therapists with Similar Lived Experiences: Students emphasized the need for therapists who understand their backgrounds and challenges. Having relatable and empathetic mental health professionals is crucial.
• Culturally Affirming Social Emotional Learning (SEL): This approach considers the unique experiences of young people of color and integrates coping skills and emotional comprehension into their education.

Our Goals

We’re calling on community leaders, school staff, and administrators to support our students by:

• Implementing wellness rooms in all schools.
• Providing access to therapists with lived experiences similar to the students they serve.
• Integrating culturally affirming SEL into the curriculum.

Our students’ mental health is as important as their academic success. Without addressing their mental health needs, we cannot expect them to excel in their studies.

Moving Forward

FEEST is committed to advocating for these changes alongside our young people and supporting our students in every way possible. We believe that with the right resources and support, our schools can become thriving learning environments for generations to come.

Special Thanks

We couldn’t have done this without our amazing partners at the UW SMART Center, Communities for Just Schools, and all the students and youth leaders who have been tirelessly organizing for a brighter future. And a big shoutout to Elyssa for the incredible illustrations that bring our infographic to life!

Stay connected with us on Instagram and Facebook for more updates and join us in this journey towards creating supportive and nurturing school environments.

With gratitude and solidarity,

The FEEST Team

Feel free to share this post and spread the word about our students’ incredible work and the vital changes they are organizing for!