Wellness Center

Join us on Tuesday, Oct 8 for a districtwide parent education event regarding the fentanyl crisis and its impact on teens. There will be a screening of a documentary from the nonprofit organization Song for Charlie followed by a question and answer panel. Panelists will include Outreach Coordinator from Song for Charlie Laura Didier, LLHS Principal Heather Thorner, LLHS Wellness Coordinator Amelia Whalen, and other community experts. The event will take place on from 6:30-8pm in the Las Lomas High School Theater. All parents within AUHSD and parents from partner districts are welcome to attend.
 
Please use this link if you are interested in attending. RSVP is not required but is helpful for our planning.

September is suicide awareness and prevention month. Although this is an extremely difficult topic to discuss with your student, it is also extremely necessary to do so. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 34 and it can touch any community at any time. It is important to know the warning signs and what to do if you suspect that your child or someone else who you care about is suicidal. Here you can find resources specifically for parents looking to educate themselves on the statistics, warning signs and preventative measures surrounding teen suicide.
*If you or your student are ever experiencing a mental health crisis call 988 or 211 for crisis support resources. Or, text ‘HOPE’ to 20121.

The Wellness Center is available for drop ins starting tomorrow, Monday Aug 26. This year, we will be located in the glass hallway next to the main office in room 8. The space is bigger which will allow us to accommodate more students looking for wellness services. Please encourage your students to drop by to check out the new space! Cheers to the best school year yet!

The Wellness team wants to welcome everyone to the 24-25 school year! We look forward to serving our AHS students and providing them with mental health and wellness resources throughout the year.

The Wellness Center is closed for drop ins until Monday Aug 26 as we prepare for new support counselors and move locations. However, we’re always available to support students in crisis. This year, we will be located in the glass hallway next to the main office in room 8. The space will be bigger which will allow us to accommodate more students looking for wellness services. Please encourage your students to drop by to check out the new space when we open. Cheers to the best school year yet!

As we wrap up the 23-24 school year, the Wellness team hopes everyone has a restorative and restful summer break. This year we had the privilege of serving over 200 hundred unique students with over 2150 visits. We love supporting students and look forward to doing the same next year! Below is a list of summer resources for those seeking connection or mental health support while we are away from school. Friendly reminder, Wellness team emails will be closed over the summer and we will not see any referrals until we return to school in August.

It’s sad to see our seniors go but we’re so proud of the work they’ve put in to move on to bigger and better things. Congrats to them and we look forward to seeing returning students and incoming freshmen for the 24-25 school year! Cheers to a great summer!

Are you or someone you know interested in quitting tobacco use? Kick It California is a free program that helps Californians kick smoking, vaping and smokeless tobacco with the help of proven, science-based strategies. Clinically proven, culturally sensitive and trusted, Kick It California (formerly the California Smokers’ Helpline) opened in 1992 as the first publicly funded statewide quitline. They now offer individual telephone counseling, a texting program, online chat, a smart phone app, Alexa Skill for quit smoking tips, and self-help materials. Take the first step toward quitting by visiting https://kickitca.org/. In Contra Costa County, you can also call 2-1-1 for a direct referral to Kick It California. 

Are you or someone you know interested in quitting tobacco use? Kick It California is a free program that helps Californians kick smoking, vaping and smokeless tobacco with the help of proven, science-based strategies. Clinically proven, culturally sensitive and trusted, Kick It California (formerly the California Smokers’ Helpline) opened in 1992 as the first publicly funded statewide quitline. They now offer individual telephone counseling, a texting program, online chat, a smart phone app, Alexa Skill for quit smoking tips, and self-help materials. Take the first step toward quitting by visiting https://kickitca.org/. In Contra Costa County, you can also call 2-1-1 for a direct referral to Kick It California. 

Radical acceptance is a powerful tool that can be used to cope with difficult situations that are out of our control. The premise is that by accepting things as they are, instead of internally fighting circumstances, we are able to reduce suffering. Radical acceptance is a challenging concept for many because it’s human nature to want to fight against things we don’t agree with. However, when utilized in a mindful manner, it gives us the opportunity to process in ways that better serve us. Keep in mind, radical acceptance is not choosing to be okay with something we don’t like or agree with but instead accepting “it is what it is”.
As we approach spring break, many of our AHS students know that the end of the school year is near. Practicing radical acceptance with your student might be the perspective shift they need to motivate themselves to finish the year strong. This is especially important for students that might be struggling to turn in work or keep their grades up. It can often feel overwhelming for students to fall behind but with radical acceptance the hope is they can accept the reality of their situation while empowering themselves to make choices to move forward in a positive manner.