Wellness center

Text by MIA BALDONADO and EMILY YAOONLINE OUTREACH Art by SAMANTHA HO WELLNESS CENTER DEPLOYS VIRTUAL FORMAT

GLOWING FAIRY LIGHTS en the completely different circumstances. actually go to the Tower Building and talk shine down upon a friendly “What I miss the most is just getting to the person there and set up a meeting,” room. A kitten climbs on a cozy to check in with someone, see how their junior Ashley Qiu said. “Whereas through sofa, while art and meditation day is going and knowing that they have the digital format — through just a signup resources adorn the walls. Crisis hotlines a safe space,” Wellness Outreach Worker form — you can get paired up with one of and ways to set up appointments with a Whitney Aquino said. the coordinators and from there, you can counselor are within easy reach. This is Palo Another challenge the team faces is talk it out and set up a meeting.” Alto High School’s virtual Wellness Center. the inability to directly reach students. Be- Although many aspects are unfamiliar,

Although the on-campus Wellness fore, a student could walk into the Wellness the Wellness Center hopes to provide a safe Center is unavailable, the Wellness Team is Center and have a spontaneous meeting. space for students. still actively providing resources for everyone during the pandemic. With plenty of online outreach, the team “The Wellness Center is a free, confidential resource of really Now, prior communication is a must. “So a lot of it [the process of setting up meetings] is “No issue or anything is too small,” Aquino said. “They’re [students are] more than welcome to talk to someone and check in with someone. We’re here and available. The Wellness Center is a free, confidential continues its practice of checking in on wonderful people who very student-driven,” Mental Health and resource of really wonderful people who are just here to listen without judgment and students and being an are just here to listen Wellness Coordina- support students in any way they can.” v accessible source for well-being. without judgement.” tor Elizabeth Spector said. “Once we reach Crisis help lines and text lines For the Wellness Team, student out— WHITNEY AQUINO, Wellness outreach worker out, students have to reciprocate and then - Crisis text line: Text HELLO to 741741 - Youth and Teen Suicide and Crisis Horeach remains just as we’ll send the link and tline: 888-247-7717 important as before. Access to therapists, it takes more initiative.” - Santa Clara County Suicide and Crisis counselors and psychologists for more tar- Despite the obstacles of not having a Hotline: 855-278-4204 geted support are made readily available physical Wellness Center, transitioning on- - RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: through Google Forms and Zoom drop-in line has allowed for a new set of students 800-656-HOPE hours. to reach out for help. Some students who - Trevor Lifeline for LGBTQ+: 1-866-488-

These resources have been helpful to weren’t as comfortable asking for help in 7386 many students. According to a report given person have found the online format to be - Trevor: Text TREVOR to 1-202-304at a PAUSD School Board meeting on Oct. more approachable. 1200 M-F from noon-7 p.m. Pacific Time 27, within the first nine weeks of school, “I felt like it’s more intimidating to the Wellness Center carried out 141 therapy sessions and 41 formal wellness referrals. Find the Wellness Center at tinyurl.com/ Although these numbers are slightly below palywellnesscenter. Drop-ins Mon-Thu 3-4 last year’s numbers, they are significant giv- p.m. and Fri 11 a.m.-12:10 p.m.