Typically, accessing traditional mental health services is a real challenge for many, preceded by a long stay on a waitlist and accompanied by a hefty price tag. For kids and teens, especially those living in disadvantaged households,…even more difficult. Yet there is a beacon of hope for these youth. Wellness centers. Wellness centers, particularly dedicated to adolescents, primarily receive outside funding (most often from the government itself). As a result, the services they offer are essentially free. That, on its own, is a massive benefit.

Sometimes, talking to an adult or a professional can be intimidating, but the atmosphere in wellness centers is inviting due to the presence of like-minded peers, the presence of peer support, and lighthearted social activities. A study by the L.A. Trust for Children’s Health correlated visits to school wellness centers with higher attendance. Wellness centers are also a great way to find resources for issues that don’t need long-term support or don’t rise to the clinical level. Overall, these centers are a great, non-judgmental zone for youth who need mental health support or simply a way to wind down and take a mental break.

Imagine, for a second, that you are a teen struggling with your mental health, living in a poor neighborhood, and dealing with unstable conditions at home. Who would you turn to? Who would you talk to? If not your home, what would your safe space be? Wellness centers. A place where you could get some rest, take a shower, do your laundry, eat some food, or listen to some music. A place where you can talk freely and find people who will listen. A place where you could meet and interact with kids just like you: people who are struggling, but are willing and hoping to heal and find support. A place that would make you truly feel cared for and understood, instead of alone.

Despite the immense benefits provided by wellness centers, they are both underfunded and neglected. Most people reading this piece have probably never even heard of a wellness center before. The awareness surrounding community mental health support is truly lacking, leading to a shortage of quality healthcare as a whole. According to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, 42% of Americans seeking mental healthcare were limited by the cost, needing to access a community center as opposed to a trained professional, a wellness center, or a mental health center, especially if they came from a lower socioeconomic background. 

In 2021, California passed a budget that would invest in youth behavioral and mental health, as well as wellness centers and resources in schools; however, this funding for students’ mental health will not be renewed in coming years, making it immensely limited and spreading the state’s resources relatively thin. Correspondingly, many government-funded schools continue to lack wellness centers as part of their facilities, further demonstrating how mental health resources and services continue to remain undervalued by local school districts, administrators, and the state itself.