May was Mental Health Awareness Month, and West Babylon Junior High School brought increased awareness, support and engaging activities to students and staff throughout the month.

To promote mental health awareness and positive well-being, staff and students were encouraged to wear green on Thursdays throughout May as a visible show of support. In addition, students shared a daily “Mental Health Quote of the Day” during morning announcements to inspire positivity, encouragement and ongoing conversation surrounding mental health. As part of the month’s activities, Hamilton, a trained therapy dog, visited with students during lunch periods on May 20. Therapy animal interactions have been shown to help reduce stress, promote calmness and support emotional wellness, offering students a meaningful and enjoyable coping experience.