Mental Health Benefits of PS 41’s Green Roof for Students and Teachers in New York City

About the Authors

Kimberly Daniels is the School Counselor and Mindfulness Director at PS 41, as well as the founder of Wellness by Kimberly, a Holistic Health practice with a focus on women’s wellness. www.wellnessbykimberly.com

Vicki Sando is the founder of PS 41’s green roof. She is an educator, author, and advocate for educational green roofs. www.vickisando.com

References

A Local Law in relation to requiring the Department of Education to conduct a study on the feasibility of installing green roofs on schools. The New York City Council, Int 0577-2024, 3/7/2024, https://tinyurl.com/3sfc5656 

Appendix A: Green Roof Student Survey 2021

de la Osa, N., Blas Navarro, J., Penelo, E., Valenti, A., Ezpeleta, L., Dadvand, P., “Long-Term Exposure to Greenspace and Anxiety from Preschool and Primary School Children.” Journal of Environmental Psychology, Academic Press, 3 Dec. 2023, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494423002554. 

EME Group. (2022). New York City Public Schools Solar PV Canopy + Rooftop Stormwater Management Feasibility Study. New York City School Construction Authority. https://tinyurl.com/3txykjer

Kenney, S., Li, Z., Ugur, Z., Liu, Z., Lau, L., Hsieh, S., “Op-Ed: Patterns and Policies of New York City’s School Green Roof Trend.” AIA New York, 21 Oct. 2024, www.aiany.org/membership/oculus-magazine/article/fall-2024/op-ed-patterns-and-policies-of-new-york-citys-school-green-roof-trend/. 

Leeb, R.T., Danielson, M.L., Claussen, A.H., Robinson, L.R., Lebrun-Harris, L.A., Ghandour, R., et al. “Trends in Mental, Behavioral, and Developmental Disorders Among Children and Adolescents in the US, 2016–2021.” Prev Chronic Dis 2024;21:240142. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd21.240142.

Sappenfield, O., Alberto, C., Minnaert, J., Donney, J., Lebrun-Harris, L., Ghandour, R., “National Survey of Children’s Health Adolescent Mental and Behavioral Health, 2023.” Https://Mchb.Hrsa.Gov/, The Health Resources and Services Administration, Oct. 2024, mchb.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/mchb/data-research/nsch-data-brief-adolescent-mental-behavioral-health-2023.pdf. 

Smith, S. “5-4-3-2-1 Coping Technique for Anxiety.” University of Rochester Medical Center, 4 Oct. 2018, www.urmc.rochester.edu/behavioral-health-partners/bhp-blog/april-2018/5-4-3-2-1-coping-technique-for-anxiety. 

Treglia, M.L., McPhearson, T., Sanderson, E.W., Yetman, G., Maxwell, E., (PDF) Examining the Distribution of Green Roofs in New York City through a Lens of Social, Ecological, and Technological Filters, Aug. 2022, www.researchgate.net/publication/362934123_Examining_the_distribution_of_green_roofs_in_New_York_City_through_a_lens_of_social_ecological_and_technological_filters.