Today, the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Public Schools took another major step toward supporting students beyond academics, officially launching the first-ever “Take A Time Out For Mental Wellness” initiative across the district.
And honestly, it feels needed.
As part of the continued partnership between the Hawks and APS, schools throughout the district are being encouraged to intentionally pause during the school day for mental wellness activities using the new Hawks at Home Yoga & Youth Mental Wellness Platform.
To celebrate the launch, the organizations hosted a wellness activation at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School, where students were introduced to the platform and participated in sessions focused on mindfulness, affirmations, and emotional wellness.
Licensed psychologist and Director of NBA and WNBA Mind Health, Dr. Kensa Gunter, led students through conversations centered around positive self-talk and affirmations—tools that feel just as important as anything being taught in textbooks right now.
And that’s really the point of this initiative.
The goal isn’t simply to tell students to “take care of themselves.” It’s about creating space for them to actually do it.
“We are proud and honored to partner with Atlanta Public Schools on the Take a Time Out for Mental Wellness activation,” said Alexis Roe, Vice President of Community Impact for the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena. “By bringing movement, mindfulness, and practical mental-health education into classrooms, this platform gives students and educators a simple, accessible way to prioritize well-being during the school day.”
After participating in the 15-to-20-minute wellness break, students received physical wellness workbooks to take home, while families also gained access to online wellness videos and interactive lessons through the Hawks at Home platform.
The online program is designed for youth ages 10-17 and includes guided yoga sessions, breathing exercises, journaling prompts, and activities focused on emotional expression, confidence-building, and stress management.
And in a time where students are carrying more mentally and emotionally than people often realize, those tools matter.
“This partnership with the Atlanta Hawks demonstrates our shared commitment to the whole child,” said Shateena Love, Assistant Superintendent for Atlanta Public Schools. “We are making mental wellness an achievable, routine part of the school day and creating a safe space for students to learn healthy coping skills.”
The Hawks and APS have continued building a strong relationship centered around student development and community impact. This marks the second district-wide initiative between the organizations, alongside their annual Race2Read Challenge, which focuses on literacy growth across Atlanta schools.
But this latest effort hits differently because it addresses something many students silently battle every day.
Mental wellness.
And instead of waiting until students are overwhelmed, the Hawks and APS are trying to normalize mindfulness, movement, and emotional support before things reach that point.
Because sometimes the most important timeout isn’t in basketball—it’s the one you take for yourself
