Mental health is an essential part of overall health, which is why having open dialogues and encouraging people to ask for help are important.
Especially in these challenging times, knowing where to find resources when needed can make all the difference in day-to-day life.
The difficulties with asking for help are compounded for young people, who may feel isolated and vulnerable trying to find the right resources.
The Mental Wellness Center created the Wellness Connection Council to spread awareness about mental health disorders among local youth. This year the council has grown to its largest size, with 60 student members from all high schools in Santa Barbara and Carpinteria.
“This is a decisive, youth-led project with mentor support, instead of adult direction,” says Annmarie Cameron, chief executive officer for the Mental Wellness Center. “There are 12 students who have been on the council for several years, and we rely on them to mentor new members of the council.”
The Wellness Connection Council meets weekly and has four impact teams that are focused on community engagement, media outreach, education and leadership, and school and peer support.
Each group directs its own projects, asking for help from staff mentors when they need guidance.
Students who join the council often are motivated by a desire to serve others while eradicating the stigma associated with mental health disorders.
“The council members never cease to amaze me, and I am so grateful to be able to facilitate an environment where they learn, connect and make change in our community,” said Alexis Malatesta, Mental Wellness Center Education Department manager.
“It is important to know, as a young person, that mental health conditions like these are nothing to be ashamed of, and if people show how to manage them at a young age, it is easier for them to manage these conditions as they get older,” said council member Lily S.
At meetings, guest speakers teach students about various mental health topics, so they will feel confident talking to others about them, and will recognize symptoms that may appear in friends.
Although young people often feel alone in their struggles, at least one in five youth, ages 9-17, has a diagnosable mental health disorder, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Committee on Adolescent Health Care.
The most common mental illnesses in adolescents are anxiety, mood, attention, and behavior disorders.
The challenges of this year have exacerbated these illnesses for many. Additionally, mental health concerns may go undiagnosed, so young people suffer in silence.
That’s why the Mental Wellness Center in Santa Barbara increased its efforts to help young people in the community learn about mental health and achieve mental wellness while supporting their peers as they work to do the same.
“We’re trying to empower them, so that when they themselves or their friend is struggling, that they don’t shy away from it,” Cameron says. “They can tell their friend, ‘This is normal, not scary or overwhelming.’ Help is available.”
Parents and caregivers can also educate themselves, so they know what to do if their kids show signs of mental illness, Cameron says.
“Only a third of young people who need care seek or get treatment,” Cameron says. “Starting this conversation in your family might open the door for your young people to ask for help when they need it.”
For more information on mental wellness for adults and adolescents, visit MentalWellnessCenter.org.