Newport Mental Health will host a free wellness event Monday designed to help students prepare mentally for the upcoming school year.
The “Get Grounded” event will run from 2 to 4 p.m. at Miantonomi Park and is open to elementary, middle and high school students throughout Newport County and their families. No registration is required.
The drop-in event features interactive stations offering grounding techniques, breathing exercises and mindfulness tools that students can use during the school year. Newport Mental Health’s Children’s Services team is organizing the event in collaboration with the International Tennis Hall of Fame and Brown Health PARC.
Community partners including the NAACP, Conexion Latina, Newport Public Schools and Ready Set Latch Go will provide additional activities such as face painting and resources for parents and caregivers.
“Starting a new school year can bring excitement, but also anxiety,” said Stephanie Lujan Rickerman, division director of Children’s Services at Newport Mental Health. “We’re creating a space where students can reset, connect with peers, and pick up simple strategies to support their mental health.”
The organization said the event will also address feelings of grief that some students may experience, with additional resources available for students and parents who need support.
Students who participate in the activity stations will receive free ice cream from Pete’s Ice Cream Truck, which will be on site during the event.
For more information, people can follow Newport Mental Health on Instagram @NewportMentalHealth_ri or call (401) 846-1213.
