Bryan High senior Cristian Carrillo Narvaez describes his ideal relaxation room as having cool, ambient lighting, bean bags, and peace and quiet.

“If I’m stressed, I want somewhere I can relax and just be myself,” he said. “And I really like bean bags.”

Carrillo Narvaez is a part of Bryan High’s interior design pathway. He and other students provided input on creating an inviting and comfortable space for Children’s Nebraska’s new Behavioral Health and Wellness Center.

“We picked out furniture and color schemes that we believed children our age or younger would feel comfortable in,” said Carrillo Narvaez. “We took a survey on the colors and portraits that made us feel warm and comfortable.”

Students offered suggestions on types of furniture, artwork, wallpaper and sensory features.

Children’s Nebraska leaders said working directly with students provided valuable insight into what makes a space feel welcoming and calming for young patients.

“Children and teens are the ones who will use and interact with the space, and to ensure the building made them feel safe and calm, it was important we seek their input,” said Jeanne Weiss, Children’s Nebraska community health strategy leader. “The students of Omaha Public Schools made a direct, lasting footprint in a state-of-the-art building that will serve kids for years to come.”

The experience provided career exploration within the pathway, as well as networking opportunities with professionals.

“It was a great opportunity,” said Jacqueline Cipriano-Ponce, Bryan High senior. “It also gave us a good understanding of the career paths we can go into.”

Krystal Kolb, Bryan High family and consumer science teacher, says that students gained hands-on experience from industry experts.

“What Children’s did to include our students is so cool,” said Kolb. “It was really neat to see that they actually applied what the students suggested.”

Kevin Trejo Orea, a Bryan High student in the mental health pathway, says something as simple as the color of a wall can play a role in a child’s mental health journey.

“Blues and greens can help bring their mood down and keep calm,” said Trejo Orea. “I feel like it’s better for them to be able to feel safe, comfortable and welcome.”

After sharing their ideas, the students returned to the wellness center to see the final product.

“It was really cool seeing our designs come to life,” said Carrillo Narvaez. “Seeing that they took into consideration what a couple of high school students saw and felt and put in place for something so important, like mental health.”

The Behavioral Health and Wellness Center opened this month on Children’s Nebraska’s West Dodge Road campus in Omaha, offering walk-in mental health services for youth under the age of 20.