In The News

November 2023

Accessing Basic Needs at Your School

Basic needs (housing, food, clothing, water, safety, healthcare, connection …) are essential to our mental health and well-being. Many of the colleges and universities here in Orange County have programming that can help with temporary and transitional shelter, clothing, food, diapers, and clean water, along with referrals to community partners who provide other basic needs-related services. Read more for a list of local college and university basic needs resources.

September 2023

The Multi-Ethnic Collaborative of Community Agencies (MECCA)  - Youth Drop-in Center Substance Use Services

The Multi-Ethnic Collaborative of Community Agencies (MECCA) is looking to combat the increase in opioid overdose by giving out Naloxone (Narcan) Nasal Spray, Test Strips (Fentanyl and Xylazine), overdose reversal trainings, and referrals for free/low-cost treatments. They will be providing this through a Drop-In Center held every Wednesday, from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM.

August 2023

Project Why Podcast: Mental health and homelessness

Arielle Zappia speaks with Partners4Wellness/Connect-OC Project Coordinator, David Paddison, about the effects of mental health on society as a whole, and specifically about how mental health connects to homelessness.

May 2023

The Impact of Sharing Your Story: Your Voice Creates a Brighter Future

Sharing your mental health journey can have a powerful impact on your own mental health, while making a difference in the lives of others. Your voice has the potential to make a profound impact: offering hope, support, and a sense of connection.

January 2023

Attachment: Relating to ourselves, others, and the world

Recently, there has been an increased popular interest in attachment and the ways our attachment experiences and corresponding attachment styles impact our relationships. In this article, Project Coordinator David Paddison explores a bit about attachment, how it helps us relate to ourselves, others, and the world and shares additional resources for further information.

November 2022

Project WHY (We Hear You)

In this article Connect-OC Young Adult Advisory Committee Member Arielle Zappia shares about her non-profit, Project WHY (We Hear You), and how she became passionate about advocating for reducing the stigma surrounding homelessness in Orange County , Ca.

September 2022

The Power of You : Recognizing the Hope in Recovery

September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Month and National Recovery Month and in a world full of social media and comparison it’s so important to recognize the power and hope that lies in being you. In this article Connect-OC intern, Joy Medina, discusses how one can identify their strengths and individuality and utilize them as reminder to oneself and those around them that we all have something unique to bring to this world.

July 2022

Eating Mindfully

July 24th is International Self Care Day and often times when we think of ways to improve our mental health, activities that come to mind could be exercise more, spend time with those you love, or reach out to a trusted therapist. While all of these can definitely improve our mental health and push us toward the right direction, we should also consider another important factor that is accessible daily, our nutrition and the food that we consume on a daily basis.

April 2022

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

The month of May can come with a lot of pressure for students, such as finals or graduating high school/college. Knowing this, it’s important to be reminded of how you can take care of your mental health. The month of May was chosen as the Mental Health Month in order to raise awareness of trauma and the impact it can have on the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of all individuals.

February 2022

A Young Adult’s Perspective on Being Diagnosed with ADHD

To bring more awareness to ADHD among young adults, our Connect-OC intern, Vivi, interviewed a local university student to talk about their first-hand experience and share a bit about challenges and tips for others that may be experiencing symptoms of ADHD.