As of 2025, an estimated one in four Americans suffer from a mental health disorder, affecting their everyday lives and the world around them. With mental health quickly becoming a crisis, a set of CHS students have decided to step in and create a solution for not only their peers, but all individuals on campus. Originally, senior Carolina Flores, and juniors Zev Harper, and Miles Kaiser went to CHS administrators separately, proposing ideas and suggesting improvements surrounding mental health resources at CHS. The three were soon introduced to one another and jointly established the student wellness advisory group now known as SWAG.
“SWAG is a student wellness advisory group which will help students gain access to mental health resources and education, ultimately letting them know that there is a safe space for them to express themselves and their emotions on campus,” Flores said.
Wellness centers are facilities which promote and support the well-being of individuals’ mental and emotional health, which is exactly what SWAG aims to achieve. The SWAG building is located next to the library, facing the 700s quad, and will officially open on May 1st, 2025. Within the wellness center, students and staff can find affirmation stations, community circles, areas for meditation. Additionally, the room is filled with novels surrounding mental health, countless resources, and games for all students to participate in.
“I want students to know that we are here to help, we want everyone to just feel better,” Kaiser said. “A lot of other high schools have implemented a wellness center or groups like SWAG, and CHS has been kind of lacking on that.”
On top of all the support SWAG has to offer, the program also hosts weekly events and partners with other organizations to raise mental health awareness. Within every week of May, the program will host events with special guests, wellness learning opportunities through music and arts, and even a 5k run/walk on May 31st on CHS campus.
“We would love to have as many students as possible participate and learn more about our events this month,” Flores said. “There is a little something for everyone, so I think a lot of students and staff can benefit from attending,”
With the creation of SWAG, CHS is finally taking a meaningful and student-driven step toward prioritizing mental and emotional well-being on campus. With the opening of a wellness center, CHS is no longer just recognizing the growing mental health crisis, it is actively responding to it. Through student leadership, collaborative support, and a wide range of accessible resources, SWAG is providing a more compassionate, informed, and connected campus environment. SWAG not only offers students a safe space to express themselves, but also signals a cultural shift: one where students’ mental health is treated with the care and attention it deserves.
