Blog
Youth attend National Leadership Forum
Youth attend National Leadership Forum with the Wellness & Prevention Center to advocate for substance use prevention and mental health supports for teens. Arantza Villarroel is a Junior at San Clemente High School and President of the Cultural Unity Club ...
Maximize Joy and Meaning
This New Year's Eve, as my family always does, we went around the dinner table and shared our New Year's resolutions. A few days before, I felt overwhelmed by the idea of a resolution. I thought of all the things I hope to achieve—personally, professionally, and...
Impaired Driving Prevention
A teenage perspective on a complex issue by Ben Haworth Learning to drive has always been a sought-after rite of passage for many teenagers. For most teens, it is their first taste of real responsibility and freedom. However, driving comes with its own set of...
Help the Wellness & Prevention Center Expand Our Services!
The Wellness & Prevention Center (WPC) is a 501c3 organization founded in 2014 by concerned community members to increase access to mental health services for local teens and families. We began supporting students and their families at San Clemente High School,...
What Red Ribbon Week Means To Me: A High School Student’s Perspective
Red Ribbon Week, an annual campaign to educate communities on the risks of drug and alcohol use, runs from October 23rd to the 31st. Students engage through dress-up themes, special activities at school, and by wearing red wristbands to show they choose to live...
September is National Suicide Prevention Month
Youth suicide is a growing concern, affecting millions of families across the world. The Center for Disease Control reports that in 2021 suicide was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-14 and 20-34. In our own community, 18% of high school students...
Back to School Wellness
The Wellness & Prevention Center has been supporting young people and their families as they return back to school for seven years, and there are some common concerns that we hear from teens and families each year. Typically, the biggest stressor at the beginning...
What’s New With the Wellness & Prevention Coalition
In October 2022, the Wellness & Prevention Coalition started a new five year cycle of funding through the Office of National Drug Control Policy Drug-Free Communities grant program. This competitive award will support collaborative work across sectors in the San...
Youth Mental Health and Social Media
You might picture a zombified teen with dark circles under their eyes, scrolling mindlessly through a social media page as the symbol of today's teen lifestyle. Staying offline can be difficult for any teen as they need to keep up with every trend and stay in the loop...
Please Talk About Mental Health
In the United States, at least one in five adolescents lives with a mental health condition and less than half receive the support they need. Many young people report that they are afraid to ask for help, their concerns are ignored, or that adults tell them it is...