Supporting the Mental Health of Orange County (OC) Youth through the Connect-OC Coalition
T
he Connect-OC Coalition (Coalition) is a
health community in Orange County, fosters collabo-
Community Networking project aimed at
ration, expands referral pathways and bridges the
supporting the mental health of youth ages
gaps in mental health services for teens, young adults
16-24 years. “Connect-OC's goals are to foster commu-
and their families.” The Coalition hosts community
nity collaboration, empower teens and young adults,
events on relevant mental health topics, sends a
break the stigma surrounding mental illness and
bi-monthly newsletter that spotlights young adult
substance use disorders and increase access to care,”
voices in OC, and has an active social media presence.
said Dr. Veronica Kelley, Chief of Mental Health and
“The Connect-OC website includes a comprehensive
Recovery Services (MHRS). “The Connect OC Coalition
Resource Directory for mental health and support
provides a unique opportunity for OC youth to be
services as well as an updated calendar that captures
involved in some great projects and feel empowered
mental health related events and programming
in taking charge of creating a new narrative for mental
happening countywide,” said Rebeka Sanchez, Health
health and wellness which includes recovery from
Program Specialist, OSP.
substance use and misuse.” Information on those opportunities is available on the Connect-OC website:
Connect-OC also hosts a monthly coalition meeting
https://www.connect-oc.org/coalition.
that brings together more than 100 mental health providers and agencies, colleges and universities,
Connect-OC partners with local college campuses
and mental health peer leaders and advocates dedi-
and community providers who work in the area of
cated to improving the system of mental health care
mental health. The Coalition builds success said Dr.
for the Transitional Age Youth and Young Adult (TAY/
Bhuvana Rao, Director, Office of Suicide Prevention
YA) population in OC. Each month the Coalition hosts
(OSP). “Through fruitful discussion and aligning
a panel discussion on different topics related to TAY
existing efforts, the Coalition connects the mental
mental health. Most recently, a panel discussed the
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