Berea-Midpark High School installs 'safe space' for students

BEREA, Ohio — Districts across Northeast Ohio have been adding special rooms to their schools in order to help students while promoting mental health. 

RELATED: You Are Not Alone: Couple creating 'safe places' in memory of son to help students find comfort at Northeast Ohio schools

Berea-Midpark High School is one of the most recent schools to install a room called "John's Safe Place," which is an area where students can find comfort and decompress. 

"John's Safe Place" was created in memory of John Haney, a Northeast Ohio man that took his life in 2017 after struggling with mental health issues. 

Following his death, his family made it a mission to help students know they don't have to fight their battles alone. 

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On Thursday, Berea-Midpark High School became the 13th school to open a "John's Safe Place."

The room is a calming and comforting place with a lounging space, encouragement board and fish tank. 

In Northeast Ohio, 12 other schools also have rooms in honor of Haney, including the following: 

• Firelands High School 
• Clearview High School 
• Strongsville High School
• Lakewood High School 
• Independence High School 
• Cuyahoga Heights High School
• Gillis-Sweet Elementary School 
• Olmsted Falls Middle School 
• North Olmsted Middle School 
• North Olmsted High School 
• Amherst Junior High School 
• Fairview High School

Pictures of the rooms can be viewed HERE.

RELATED: You are Not Alone: More 'safe places' created in Northeast Ohio schools thanks to John's Safe Place foundation

EDITOR'S NOTE: The video above previously aired on 3News on Sept. 8, 2021.

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