SAN JOSE, CA – In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) Youth Health and Wellness Department in collaboration with the Student Wellness Advisory Group (SWAG) launched the #HeckaWell campaign.
H.E.C.K.A. Well stands for Helping Every Child Know Authentic Wellness. The campaign is a call to action for youth, educators, and the community to commit to ensuring that students and young people in Santa Clara County are physically, socially, emotionally, and mentally well.
“Conversations about mental health are important for our next generation to eliminate the stigma around mental health and wellness,” said Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, County Superintendent of Schools. “Open dialogues that include sharing our challenges can help young people feel comfortable accessing support. Supporting our mental health in the same way we support physical health can reduce stigma and promote overall wellbeing.”
The campaign featured
videos from SWAG members and the Youth Health and Wellness Department staff addressing educational leaders about the value of mental health and wellness support.
Community members, schools, districts, and educational agencies were invited to join the social media campaign by sharing what their organization is doing to help every child know authentic wellness.
Participating members included Dr. Dewan and Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors President, Susan Ellenberg, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley, the YMCA of Silicon Valley, and SCCOE employees.
During Student Mental Health Awareness Week, May 8-12, elementary, middle and high school wellness centers across Santa Clara County hosted student activities focusing on wellbeing and social-emotional learning (SEL).
Wellness specialists at Mariano Castro Elementary School in the Mountain View Whisman Elementary School District facilitated a hands-on activity called “Tactile Tuesday,” a craft experience teaching youth how to make clay shapes while identifying their emotions.
Other school-based wellness centers showed videos around destigmatizing mental illness, hosted healthy movement group exercises, facilitated garden mediation and more.
“The SCCOE continues to prioritize creating safe and supporting spaces where students can access mental health and wellness resources,” said Dr. Chaunise Powell, Executive Director of Youth Health and Wellness. “By uplifting our educational systems and supportive organizations, we are #HECKAWell.”
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About the Santa Clara County Office of Education
Working collaboratively with school and community partners, the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) is a regional service agency committed to serving, inspiring, and promoting student and public school success. The SCCOE is a premier service organization driven by the core principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and partnership. For more information about the Santa Clara County Office of Education, please visit www.sccoe.org and follow us @SCCOE on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.