May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the need for deeper awareness couldn’t be more urgent. As I was writing this story, a headline landed in my inbox: “The Stress Crisis by the Numbers.”
It hit hard.
Anxiety is now the most prevalent mental health concern in the U.S., affecting around 40 million adults—about one in five of us dealing with unmanageable levels. And teens aren’t exempt. Anxiety rates are high among adolescents, and in Santa Cruz County, more than a quarter of public school students reported feeling sad every day over the past year. The numbers are even higher among LGBTQ+ youth.
According to the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, Mental Health Awareness Month “shouldn’t be just another recognition month that gets lost in the social media scroll.” Instead, there are active steps one can take to use this time to check in—with ourselves and each other.
First, ask these questions:
- How am I doing mentally?
- How are the people I care about doing?
- What resources do we need to thrive?
Yes, the pandemic spurred the uptick, yet even before that news media were reporting on an increase in anxiety and depression among young people. “Even before Covid, we were seeing a significant rise in issues like anxiety and depression amongst teenagers,” Santa Cruz City Schools Superintendent Kris Munro wrote in a news release.
Thankfully, Santa Cruz is responding in a big way. Local high schools like Harbor, Scotts Valley and Soquel now feature dedicated student wellness centers. Santa Cruz High is slated to join them by 2026. These centers offer critical support—covering everything from mental and sexual health to substance abuse and bullying—so students can thrive in and out of the classroom.
Local colleges are stepping up too. UCSC’s Student Health Outreach & Promotion and Counseling and Psychological Services are hosting a full slate of events this May. Cabrillo College is offering a workshop that’s free to students and faculty—and just $50 for the public. Both schools offer students free access to counseling services.
Students aside, more people than ever are prioritizing mental wellness, seeking therapy, coaching and even making “mental health resolutions.” Born and raised in Pleasure Point, Maaliea Wilbur, LMFT, is passionate about giving back to this community. She founded TherapyWorks 15 years ago as a solo practice and has grown it into three offices and a team of 12. Her mission? “It’s about helping people live better.”
Wilbur sees encouraging signs in the next generation: “There’s an openness and willingness to seek help before crisis happens,” she says. “The stigma is lessening. Younger years are so pivotal.” But the challenges remain. “There’s seasonality to stressors, and when sh*t hits the fan—we get busy. So, we’re busy right now.”
She’s also noticing a growing integration of physical and mental health. “From diet to sleep to exercise, lifestyle choices really impact mental wellness,” she explains. And while online resources are helpful, Wilbur emphasizes the value of human connection. “There is something so special about that in-person connection. The connection is what drives outcomes.”
Still, not everyone is ready to dive into traditional therapy. That’s why TherapyWorks offers free resources like the 30-Day Challenge and the Support Studio, a digital hub filled with tools for managing mental well-being. “A lot of people are looking for a quick fix,” Wilbur says. “But mental health is a journey—not a destination.”
And here in Santa Cruz, that journey is becoming more supported, more accessible, and—finally—more visible.
TherapyWorks hosts a free Spark Session on May 28 from 9-10am. Learn more at mytherapyworks.com.
To find out more about the Cabrillo College workshop, visit linktr.ee/cabrilloshs.
Elizabeth Borelli is a longevity coach and wellness guide. Find wellness tips and recipes at ElizabethBorelli.com.
