OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio -- Over the last two years, more than a handful of John’s Safe Place locations have opened in Northeast Ohio schools.
One of the newest is located at Olmsted Falls Middle School, where students in need of a moment to relax and manage their stress levels can find respite.
“We feel that mental health is equally important to academic success,” said Olmsted Falls Middle School counselor Kathy Suvak, who spearheaded bringing a John’s Safe Space to the Bagley Road building.
“They really go hand in hand, so we want the community to know we understand that and we understand that kids do struggle -- even the best of kids. They just need a space to kind of relax and chill and center themselves, even if it’s just for 10 minutes,” Suvak said.
“And when they’re ready, they go back to the classroom and continue their day.”
The John C. Haney Memorial Foundation donated the John’s Safe Place, which is located in the school’s school counseling office. The room features a couch, bean bag chair and 37-gallon fish tank.
Nearly 100 students have visited Olmsted Falls Middle School’s newly opened John’s Safe Place. (Photo courtesy of Olmsted Falls City Schools)
“What’s kind of cool is an encouragement board where kids can write positive messages to each other on index cards,” Suvak said. “They’re writing (notes) like ‘Stay the course’ or ‘Be the sunshine in someone’s life today.’ I think that’s the best part of it all.”
Since the start of the school year, Suvak said nearly 100 students have visited the new amenity.
“Our district has been all in from the first time Kathy mentioned this,” Principal Mark Kurz said.
Recently visiting the new Olmsted Falls Middle School amenity were Rick and Beth Haney, whose son John, a 2012 Fairview High School graduate, committed suicide in 2017.
Out of that tragedy came the John C. Haney Memorial Foundation, which boasts a mission to bring mental health awareness to area middle schools and high schools.
Haney previously told cleveland.com: “On Nov. 12, 2017, John committed suicide. Neither his family nor friends had any idea that John was battling these thoughts. After it happened, we decided then that we needed to try to help other families not to go through this tragic thing in their own life, but also stop the stigma of mental illness.
“Nobody wants to talk about it; nobody wants to share having a problem. I believe that was a big part of what was going on with my son at the time. We live in a world of uncertainty and in a world where people don’t feel a whole lot of hope. They need to know there are people out there that care for them.”
The John C. Haney Memorial Foundation has six John’s Safe Place locations, including at Fairview High School, North Olmsted Middle School, North Olmsted High School, Olmsted Falls Middle School, Amherst Junior High School and Gillis-Sweet Elementary School in Fairview Park.
The nonprofit is currently in the process of adding locations at Cuyahoga Heights High School and Independence Middle School.
“As you can see, we’ve been pretty busy,” Haney said. “We’re getting great feedback from the counselors, as they say this is a wonderful tool for them to use as they try to help these kids.
“All of these schools have embraced the foundation and the John’s Safe Place rooms. It’s wonderful to see and hear how they’re helpful and making an impact in their lives. We’re working diligently to end the stigma of mental illness.”
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