SO THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFULL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM.. A RIBBON CUTTING TUESDAY FOR SOQUEL HIGH SCHOOL’S NEW “WELLNESS CENTER” A SAFE PLACE FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED HELP DEALING WITH ANY NUMBER OF SOCIAL OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.. THE NEW WELLNESS CENTER REPLACES A TEMPORARY ROOM THAT WAS SMALL AND OVERCROWDED… STUDENTS CAN COME HERE AND GET THE SUPPORT.. THE RESOURCES TO DEAL WITH MENTAL HEATH AND SEXUAL HEALTH ISSUES.. SUBSTANCE ABUSE.. EVEN BULLYING.. SO STUDENTS CAN BE SUCCESSFUL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM.. SAMANTHA MITCHELL IS A WELLNESS NAVIGATOR.. TRAINED TO GUIDE STUDENTS THROUGH THE PROCESS OF FINDING WHATEVER SUPPORT THEY MIGHT NEED.. SHE’S ALREADY CONNECTED WITH DOZENS OF STUDENTS.. AND TOMORROW ANOTHER RIBBON CUTTING.. FOR ANOTHER WELLNESS CENTER.. THAT ONE WILL BE HARBOR HIGH.. WITH PLANS TO OPEN A WELLNESS CENTER AT SANTA CRUZ HIGH SCHOOL NEXT YEAR.. AT SOQUEL HIGH SCHOOL.. FELIX CORTEZ ACTION NEWS 8.
Santa Cruz schools open new wellness centers to support student mental health
Updated: 11:38 AM PDT Apr 2, 2025
School leaders in the Santa Cruz City School District taking steps this week to address the mental health of its students head-on.Tuesday afternoon there was a ribbon cutting ceremony for Soquel High School’s new ‘Wellness Center’ a safe place for students who need help dealing with any number of social or mental health issues.“Healthy body, a healthy mind, yeah, if you’re not healthy mentally, it’s really hard to be successful academically,” said Soquel High Principal Julia Hodges.The new wellness center replaced a temporary room that was small and overcrowded. Students can go there and get the support, and the resources to deal with mental health and sexual health issues, substance abuse, and even bullying so they can be successful inside and outside of the classroom.“They’re some that were so shy and now like they’re coming in, they’re like, yeah, this is bothering me and they unleash it all and then they’re like, ready to go to science and I’m like, cool I did my part like, you’re good, you’re awesome and then they come and share victories too,” said Samantha Mitchell, a wellness navigator.Mitchell is trained to guide students through the process of finding whatever support they might need and she’s already connected with dozens of students.“Like I was having, like, symptoms of something and she, like, went through, like, a whole detective mode and started, like, googling everything to, like, figure out what was going on and so, like, she helped me overcome things and stuff,” said Soquel high freshman Nevaeh Fellows.“Every time I feel nervous or scared, my first instinct is to come to the wellness center and talk to Sam she makes me feel comfortable, and she’s just a really great person who just, like, helps every one, no matter what,” added Soquel high freshman, Jayden Ballard.Wednesday there will be another ribbon cutting for another wellness center this time at Harbor High.School leaders also plan to open a wellness center at Santa Cruz High School next school year.See more coverage of top Central Coast stories | Download our app / Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
School leaders in the Santa Cruz City School District taking steps this week to address the mental health of its students head-on.
Tuesday afternoon there was a ribbon cutting ceremony for Soquel High School’s new ‘Wellness Center’ a safe place for students who need help dealing with any number of social or mental health issues.
“Healthy body, a healthy mind, yeah, if you’re not healthy mentally, it’s really hard to be successful academically,” said Soquel High Principal Julia Hodges.
The new wellness center replaced a temporary room that was small and overcrowded. Students can go there and get the support, and the resources to deal with mental health and sexual health issues, substance abuse, and even bullying so they can be successful inside and outside of the classroom.
“They’re some that were so shy and now like they’re coming in, they’re like, yeah, this is bothering me and they unleash it all and then they’re like, ready to go to science and I’m like, cool I did my part like, you’re good, you’re awesome and then they come and share victories too,” said Samantha Mitchell, a wellness navigator.
Mitchell is trained to guide students through the process of finding whatever support they might need and she’s already connected with dozens of students.
“Like I was having, like, symptoms of something and she, like, went through, like, a whole detective mode and started, like, googling everything to, like, figure out what was going on and so, like, she helped me overcome things and stuff,” said Soquel high freshman Nevaeh Fellows.
“Every time I feel nervous or scared, my first instinct is to come to the wellness center and talk to Sam she makes me feel comfortable, and she’s just a really great person who just, like, helps every one, no matter what,” added Soquel high freshman, Jayden Ballard.
Wednesday there will be another ribbon cutting for another wellness center this time at Harbor High.
School leaders also plan to open a wellness center at Santa Cruz High School next school year.
See more coverage of top Central Coast stories | Download our app / Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
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