Wellness Story Spotlight: At Mira Mesa High School, a Wellness Center Rooted in Student Voices Helps Teens Find Their Footing
Walk into the Wellness Center at Mira Mesa High School during lunch, and you might find students making friendship bracelets, writing on an affirmation board, or simply talking through a tough week with someone who listens. Open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the center welcomes an average of 20 to 25 students each day. For many of them, it has become the one place on campus where they feel truly seen.
“The primary goal of the Mira Mesa Wellness Center is to provide a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment where students can access resources that support their emotional, physical, and mental well-being. Creating a student-centered space that offers opportunities for skill-building, such as managing stress and building resilience, is a core function of the Wellness Center,” said Desmond Rose (Coach Rose), Mira Mesa Wellness Center Coordinator.
“During difficult moments with my family or friends, or whenever I feel stressed about school or my future, the Wellness Center and Coach Rose have been there to help me through it. Without the Wellness Center, I may not have had an outlet to talk about the things that were affecting me negatively,” a Mira Mesa High School student said.
The Wellness Center is open to all students. It provides a safe, inclusive, and non-judgmental space where they can check in with the Wellness Center Coordinator, practice self-regulation skills, or connect with a range of support resources. Those resources include housing assistance, transportation support, counseling, legal aid, and LGBTQIA+ support services.
Several community partnerships help expand what the center can offer. The Wellness Practicum Program, YMCA, Military and Family Life Counselor (MFLC), and Douglas Young Youth & Family Services all provide individual, group, and family counseling services on campus.
One of the most popular efforts is the lunchtime outreach program. During lunch, staff set up a table and engage students with activities like affirmation boards, friendship bracelet making, and conversations about healthy ways to manage stress. These activities have helped connect with students who had never visited the Wellness Center before. Many of them now stop by regularly just to say hello on their way to their next class.
“Having the Wellness Center has been a good option for students like myself. I never felt connected to our other spaces/adults on campus, so before, I didn’t really feel as connected as I do now. Having these services on campus shows that the school cares about students and their well-being beyond just graduating,” a Mira Mesa High School student said.
What sets Mira Mesa’s Wellness Center apart goes beyond programming. It is the sense of community and family that the team works to build every day. The space is designed with students in mind and shaped by their voices. Many of the activities and programs offered are based on the needs and interests of the students themselves.
The center’s reach extends beyond its own walls. Staff have collaborated with middle school Wellness Centers to host community events such as “What I Wish My Parents Knew,” which brings families and students together to talk through issues affecting young people today. The team also goes into classrooms to help destigmatize mental health and educate students about what the Wellness Center offers and how they can access support.
“I would recommend the Wellness Center because everyone has something they’re dealing with, at home, at school, or even at work. The Wellness Center provides a safe space where students can talk, vent, or simply take a moment to gather themselves. That kind of support is really important when you’re a teenager and everything can feel overwhelming,” a Mira Mesa High School student said.
Student wellness is central to San Diego Unified’s goals and guardrails adopted by the Board of Education. Mira Mesa High School’s Wellness Center is one of more than a dozen across the district working to give every student access to support, resources, and a sense of belonging on campus.
For more information about wellness centers in San Diego Unified, contact [email protected] or call 619-725-5501.
Article written by a communications team member on behalf of the San Diego Unified School District Strategic Communications and Information Department.