North Attleborough Public Schools Superintendent John Antonucci 6 Morse St., North Attleborough, MA 02760

For Immediate Release Media Contact: Taylor O’Neil Friday, Sept. 26, 2025 Phone: 774-254-7615 Email: toneil@nattleboro.com

North Attleborough High School Freshmen Receive Mental Health Wellness Kits from Jed and Red Sox Foundations Ahead of School Year

JED

North Attleborough freshmen received mental health wellness kits courtesy of the JED Foundation and Red Sox Foundation during the district’s annual Step-Up Day. (Photo courtesy North Attleborough Public Schools)

NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH, MA--- As National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is observed this September, North Attleborough High School is continuing its commitment to supporting student mental health alongside its community partners.

On Thursday, Aug. 21, freshmen participating in the district’s annual Step-Up Day received mental health awareness kits, which were provided by the Jed Foundation (JED) and the Red Sox Foundation. The kits included a journal, an adult coloring book, colored pencils, a fidget ring, mindfulness cards, resources from JED and more.

“North Attleborough High School’s partnership with JED has helped us ensure our students and families are receiving the most comprehensive support for their mental wellness and any mental health struggles that might arise while they’re at the high school,” said Philip Allessi, clinical leader and school psychologist. “It’s a partnership which recognizes that our student success is just not in the classroom, but also in learning the skills necessary to live a happy and healthy life after graduation.”

The JED collaborated with the Red Sox Foundation and its New England Service Scholarship recipients at Fenway Park on June 27 to assemble these kits for students throughout Massachusetts. North Attleborough High School was among a select group of schools chosen to receive the kits through their involvement in the JED High School Program.

“North Attleborough High School’s commitment to supporting student well-being is clear. These kits are a simple but powerful way to remind students that their mental health matters,” said JED School Mental Health Specialist Krystal Skaggs.

The KyleCares Foundation and JED enrolled North Attleborough High School in their JED High School Program in 2021. As part of this initiative, JED works to develop long-term strategies to address mental health and wellness. Since its enrollment in the program, JED and KyleCares have partnered with the district’s Active Minds chapter, a student-run organization focused on prioritizing students’ mental health, on numerous programs and initiatives.

As National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month continues, the district encourages students and families to talk openly about mental health, learn the warning signs of suicide, and connect with resources that can provide assistance. For resources and information, visit jedfoundation.org or dial 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

About The Jed Foundation (JED) JED is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults. We partner with high schools and colleges to strengthen their mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems. We equip teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to support themselves and one another. And we encourage communities to increase awareness, understanding, and action around young adult mental health.

The mental health wellness kits distributed to North Attleborough High School freshmen included sensory items and mental health resources. (Photo courtesy North Attleborough Public Schools)

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