Need a snack? Need some time alone? Need stress relief? The Brain Health Retreat Room, in its second year, may be what you need.
In 2021-2022, West Delaware contacted Butler in hopes of bringing a Brain Health Retreat Room to the high school.
In hopes of improving brain health support, Debi Butler, from Dubuque, founded the Brain Health Now organization. Butler created a room where students can receive support and comfort when needed.
Incorporating the philosophy of Brain Health Now, the high school built a Brain Heath Room to help students in need. Between September and March, there have been 1,584 visits to the BHRR. The purpose of the BHRR is to help students self-regulate and de-escalate so they may head back into the classroom and concentrate on their studies.
Walking into the BHRR, four different areas exist: a kitchen, a dining room, a living room with a zen garden, and privacy chairs. “Each area has an intention for the students so they feel more safe and comfortable,” said Makenna Kelley, liaison for the BHRR, who is a licensed counselor at the master’s level.
From a simple snack to a moment alone or even time to vent to Kelley, the BHRR is there to help.
Principal Tim Felderman said, “The brain health room is fantastic; it’s a great way for students to lower their anxiety and help them feel comfortable and safe.”
In 1985, Butler’s brother was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and the stigma around it was hard.
“My brother was living in a world that didn’t understand him, and as a sister, I wanted to help him,” Butler said. “The stigma around mental illness was so difficult to understand back then; we did over 400 presentations on how to end stigma to businesses, universities, hospitals, legislatures, schools and organizations throughout Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin.”
Butler feels that going from the terminology of mental health to brain health has been relatively easy. “People love using brain health because just like any other organ, it can get compromised,” Butler said.
Butler and her organization have made endless accomplishments, from creating sixteen BHRRs in Iowa within many high schools and two throughout Wisconsin with six more on the way, to passing Resolution Bill #102 in Congress and dedicating October as Brain Health Awareness Month.
The goal of the Brain Health Now organization is never-ending. “I hate to say we want A, B, and C because I don’t want a cap on what we plan on doing,” Butler said.
Iowa is important, but Butler wishes to reach out to surrounding states to push the organization throughout the country.
Students are the top priority to Butler and Brain Health Now.
“It’s really important that our youth feels heard and a part of the society. They cannot give up. They are our future, our everything,” Butler said. “That’s our goal—to help the youth, to make them feel important to society, to make them know and understand that they are important.”
