Santa Maria High School recently hosted Mental Health Awareness Week, designed to raise awareness, de-stigmatize mental health, and emphasize available support on campus and in the community.

Students line up for information at one of the mental wellness tables (Courtesy photo)
Several local mental health agencies and nonprofit groups had tables at the Mental Wellness event. (Courtesy photo)

Organized by the Wellness Center staff in collaboration with school counselors, ESS therapists, and school psychologists, the program encouraged students to feel safe asking for help and access resources.

Several local mental health agencies and community nonprofit organizations joined the event, said Margarita Guillen-Franco, SMHS wellness counselor.

The agencies included Behavior Wellness, Boys and Girls Club, CAPSLO, Casa Pacifica, Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley, Knowing You Matter, One Community Action, Tequio, and the YMCA.

“May is Mental Health Awareness Month, an initiative recognized worldwide. We wanted to raise awareness and normalize conversations about mental health in a fun and informative manner,” said Mayte Olivera, crisis intervention consultant at the Wellness Center.

“The SMHS Wellness Center has hosted many workshops this year to help Santa Maria Saints feel cared for,” said Manuel Zamudio Calderon, a senior and ASB president.

“This May they took pride in hosting SMHS’s Mental Health Week, which provided students with opportunities to help deal with mental health challenges.

“The SMHS Wellness Center continues creating a space where students can take care of themselves and each other, and that means a lot. It’s great to know we are supported and seen.”