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...
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...
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...
Substance use prevention has been around for a long time. From the Just Say No campaign of the 80s to the OC Sheriff’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program that provides education to school age youth on the dangers of drugs. What we have learned is that...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Family Fest will be held on Saturday, April 23rd from 11AM to 4PM at the Jim Johnson Memorial Park in San Clemente. The fun-filled day will have activities that appeal to all ages. Come early at 10AM with your yoga mat to join us for some free morning yoga! Families...