NCC Held Grand Openings of Zen Zones

On February 7 and 8, Northampton Community College (NCC) held grand openings of its new Preventive Measures Zen Zones. The three new spaces, one on each NCC campus, were officially introduced to students, faculty, staff, and community members. The events included ribbon cuttings, tours of the Zen Zones, and panel discussions on mental health and the comprehensive services available at NCC.  

“This offers validation and re-assurance that I’m being seen. We all have struggles, and having a space to decompress and relax helps students get re-focused on achieving their goals without those hurdles,” said Marvyn Jimenez, NCC media production student, during one of the grand openings. 

The soothing, low-sensory environments provide dedicated rooms for the NCC community to focus on health and wellness. With a generous donation from Preventive Measures, a leader in mental health and home health services that promotes thriving communities in the Lehigh Valley and Pocono regions, the Zen Zones went from concept to reality. 

Kevin Greene, NCC Foundation Board member and liaison to Preventive Measures Zen Zones, said, “We are committed to the whole student with the goal of preventing mental health crisis. It’s the little things we do and do for others that help us get through the stressors and difficulties we face each day.” 

In the Zen Zones, some chairs move and others are stationary for different needs, but all seats face away from one another. There are privacy screens in some areas, which provide solitude in the spaces even if there are others using them at the same time. There are monitors with breathing exercises on loop and materials like adult coloring books, plushies and weighted stuffed animals, puzzles, therapeutic putty, kinetic sand, journals, and more, all to help ground and re-focus the mind. 

Preventive Measures also provided stickers with a QR code that can be scanned to access mental health videos on the spot, or visitors can take the sticker with them for later use.  

Dwayne Jones, CEO of Preventive Measures, said, “It’s an exciting day. Not only are the Zen Zones here to promote a space for students to become mentally healthy, they’re also a space where students can learn how to become supportive for others and well-rounded human beings.” 

According to Dr. Jen Bradley, NCC Psychology Professor, the spaces can help to improve cognitive function and concentration. This will allow visitors to study more effectively, absorb more information, and achieve better grades. Since NCC is a certified suicide prevention institution, the Zen Zones initiative is also part of NCC's overall suicide prevention plan to increase help seeking behavior and decrease feelings of overwhelm.  

NCC Associate Vice Provost and Dean of Students, Dr. Eric Rosenthal, and NCC Director of the New Choices/New Options Program, Maryann Haytmanek, both said that NCC has various other tools of support for students in addition to the Zen Zones. 

NCC President, Dr. David A. Ruth, told attendees, “Our commitment to student success is both focused on academic success and personal well-being. At NCC, we have a holistic approach to helping students cope and manage situations and stressors that arise in their lives; so, they can stay healthy and able to focus on achieving their goals here and in all areas of their life.”