Taking a Stand: WYS Against Bullying on National Pink Day
On National Pink Day, Western Youth Services (WYS) proudly takes a stand against bullying, advocating for mental health and promoting a culture of kindness. This blog post explores the importance of bullying prevention and the role each of us can play in creating a supportive and respectful environment. National Pink Day: As we celebrate National […]
No Name-Calling Week: Western Youth Services’ Stand Against Bullying
In the pursuit of creating safe and inclusive spaces for youth, Western Youth Services is proud to observe No Name-Calling Week, a dedicated initiative to raise awareness about the impact of bullying on mental health. At our core, we recognize the importance of fostering empathy, resilience, and positive character development to combat bullying and create […]
Nurturing Youth Mental Health: Self-Care Tips for a Resilient New Year
As we stand on the cusp of a new year, Western Youth Services extends warm wishes for a year filled with growth, resilience, and, above all, positive mental well-being. The journey into the New Year provides an excellent opportunity to prioritize youth mental health. In this blog post, we’ll explore essential self-care tips tailored for […]
Giving Tuesday: Empowering Youth Mental Health through Your Generosity
Giving Tuesday, celebrated annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, is a global movement dedicated to giving back. It’s a day where people come together to support various causes and make a positive impact in their communities. At Western Youth Services (WYS), we invite you to join us in this meaningful endeavor by supporting our mission […]
Mental Health Awareness in Action
Mental Health Awareness in Action Mental health awareness and education are paramount to our daily work. Throughout the pandemic, two things kept rising to the top (1) mindfulness and (2) people want to learn more about mental health. This article includes some of the mindfulness techniques that we use with our clients, in our programs, […]
The Heartbeat Goes On
The Heartbeat Goes On Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is impacting all of our lives. Stress, fear, and anxiety are heightened; we want you to know that help is available and you are not alone. Western Youth Services (WYS) has been part of the heartbeat of the Orange County, California community since 1972 and we are here […]
Why We Still Need To Talk About Teen Mental Health
Why We Still Need To Talk About Teen Mental Health We created our series 13 Reasons Why We MUST Talk About Teen Mental Health because when the Netflix original series, 13 Reasons Why, aired there was tremendous controversy surrounding it. The show shares the fictional story of a high school student named Hannah Baker, who […]
Hope for Teens Struggling with Depression
Hope for Teens Struggling with Depression Depression in adolescents is more than sadness or moodiness. It is a complex mental health condition that requires compassionate medical care. At Western Youth Services, we support teens and families through the complexities of living with a mental illness. What is depression? Everyone feels sad at some point in […]
9 Ways to Strengthen Resiliency and Prevent Instances of Mental Illness in Youth
9 Ways to Strengthen Resiliency and Prevent Instances of Mental Illness There are certain factors, including Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) like abuse, neglect and family dysfunction that increase the likelihood of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As we have witnessed and experienced, these childhood adversities can have a […]
How to Overcome Emotional Neglect in Childhood
How to Overcome Emotional Neglect in Childhood Family relationships are complex and there are a wide range of issues that fall under the label of family dysfunction. Most people associate it with big events, such as witnessing domestic violence, living through divorce or separation of a parent/caregiver, addictive behaviors, domestic abuse, and/or mental health concerns […]