Blog
The Pressure to be Perfect
An essay written by Ethan Furlong, Junior at San Clemente High School and President of the Strength in Numbers club I have a confession to make–this article took me a long time to write. I was afraid of the potential for it to turn out less-than-perfect. This...
Tis’ the Season for Compassion
The holiday season can be hectic, challenging, and sometimes not the picture perfect celebrations we envision. As we still face the challenges of a long pandemic and an uncertain economy, it can seem a little less cheerful. However, taking time to pause and celebrate...
Fentanyl: A National and Local Public Health Crisis
There has been an alarming rise in the cases of injuries and deaths associated with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, which has become part of a growing public health crisis in our community and across the nation. Deaths from overdoses reached a staggering 107,622 in...
Wellness & Prevention Coalition Receives Funding to Support Youth Well-Being in San Clemente
The Wellness & Prevention Coalition joined 645 local coalitions across the nation as a federally funded Drug-Free Communities (DFC) coalition through the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). The Wellness & Prevention Coalition was a...
Coming Together4Teens
On October 1, 2022, the Wellness & Prevention Center (WPC) will host Together4Teens at Capistrano Valley High School in Mission Viejo, CA. This event is planned by youth and local organizations to bring awareness to the pressures that teens face today and to...
Back to School for Teens
Once again, summer break flew by and here we are again getting our teens back to middle and high school and off to college. I find this a challenging time of year, as we go from easy-going beach days, sleeping in, impromptu meals at varying times of day, to a much...
Needed: More Mental Health Workers
The past several years have had an impact on most people's mental health causing a surge in demand for mental health services. Young people have been impacted as early symptoms of the diseases of mental health were missed during virtual schooling, social interaction...
Encouraging E-Bike Safety for the Summer
It’s hard to believe that summer is here! I’m sure many of you have teens who are excited to spend the summer hanging out with their friends and relaxing at the beach. This break from the structure and demands of school are a welcome relief to most families....
We All Have Mental Health Concerns and We Need to Talk About It
Mental health exists on a spectrum from mental wellness to mental distress. On any given day we might be anywhere on that spectrum and we might move around the spectrum throughout the day. It is important for all of us to discuss our mental well-being openly and...
Adolescents and the Dangers of Illicit Fentanyl
By Amy Neville In the last several years, fentanyl has been infiltrating the illicit drug market. For most of us who don’t use drugs recreationally, this seems like a benign fact. For parents with adolescents, the danger may still seem like a very distant...