Project Description
Why Focus on Isolation?
As a group, we knew that our mental health and the mental health of our peers had been negatively impacted by lockdown, and we felt isolated by the format of online school. We knew we could provide our valuable student perspective regarding the current mental health support network at Harrisonburg High School and share suggestions to improve the school environment. Through our project, we want our peers to feel less alone in their struggles.
As a group, we knew that our mental health and the mental health of our peers had been negatively impacted by lockdown, and we felt isolated by the format of online school. We knew we could provide our valuable student perspective regarding the current mental health support network at Harrisonburg High School and share suggestions to improve the school environment. Through our project, we want our peers to feel less alone in their struggles.
The Survey
The goal of our capstone is to address the isolation negatively affecting students’ mental health at Harrisonburg High School. In order to inform us of students’ current mental health, we collected both qualitative and quantitative data through surveys and interviews. We then reported this data along with concrete suggestions for improving the Harrisonburg High School mental health support system to administration, counselors, and select faculty.
The Table
Inspired by this survey data, we also built a table with a painted tile top in the courtyard of HHS. Our installation promotes a sense of connection between students in order to counteract feelings of isolation: students can physically sit at our table to engage with others. Additionally, the QR code on the tabletop takes viewers directly to this website, so they can see our survey data, gain self care suggestions, and overall, feel less alone.
The goal of our capstone is to address the isolation negatively affecting students’ mental health at Harrisonburg High School. In order to inform us of students’ current mental health, we collected both qualitative and quantitative data through surveys and interviews. We then reported this data along with concrete suggestions for improving the Harrisonburg High School mental health support system to administration, counselors, and select faculty.
The Table
Inspired by this survey data, we also built a table with a painted tile top in the courtyard of HHS. Our installation promotes a sense of connection between students in order to counteract feelings of isolation: students can physically sit at our table to engage with others. Additionally, the QR code on the tabletop takes viewers directly to this website, so they can see our survey data, gain self care suggestions, and overall, feel less alone.
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The Tile
The design painted on the table top depicts the constellations visible from Harrisonburg on March 13, 2020. That was the first day of lockdown when intense isolation began for many students. Our design is focused on constellations because it parallels mental health: the individual stars appear isolated from one another, but from certain perspectives, they are actually all connected. This is similar to the way we are all connected through shared mental health struggles. The stars represented in the painting are inspired by the star depictions of cultures around the world including Eastern Europe, Egypt, the Middle East, East Asia, and Greece.
Shown below: the original tile design and the later design for the final painting.
The design painted on the table top depicts the constellations visible from Harrisonburg on March 13, 2020. That was the first day of lockdown when intense isolation began for many students. Our design is focused on constellations because it parallels mental health: the individual stars appear isolated from one another, but from certain perspectives, they are actually all connected. This is similar to the way we are all connected through shared mental health struggles. The stars represented in the painting are inspired by the star depictions of cultures around the world including Eastern Europe, Egypt, the Middle East, East Asia, and Greece.
Shown below: the original tile design and the later design for the final painting.
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