Blog

September 2025

Chatbots, Media, and Mental Health

With the rise in the use of “AI” chatbots and the persistent presence of social media, the use of language learning models (LLM) have been increasing due to its ease of access. Particularly, teens and young adults have turned to these LLMs as a form of digital support during times of mental health crises.As professionals and adults, we need to be more present in the lives of teens and young adults as we all continue to navigate this new era of technology.

July 2025

Mental Health and the Workplace

Mental health in the workplace has become an increasingly important topic as employees face burnout and financial stressors. As transitional aged youth and young adults enter the workforce, it's important to acknowledge the need for increased services and access to resources. Here are some ways mental health can be addressed in the workplace.

July 2025

Sophie Kim

A goal of the Connect-OC Coalition is to highlight the voices and work of young adults advocating for mental health and wellness. In this interview we speak with Sophie who is a student at Orange County School of the Arts and she shares with us about how acting has almost single-handedly saved her mental health by connecting her with a network of people who have had similar experiences and provided a safe space to work through emotions. Sophie also shares about her role as Public Relations/Assistant Director for "Erabus and the Fall of Sparrows" a student-curated play that covers topics relevant to the youth such as teen suicide and gun violence.

May 2025

What’s the best fit for you?  Virtual vs In-person Therapy

Want to take the step to start therapy but don’t know which environment is the best fit? Choosing between different modes of therapy can be overwhelming and intimidating, but don’t worry! Here is a brief breakdown of virtual therapy and in-person therapy

March 2025

Toxic Friendships: creating healthier, supportive environments for individuals affected by bullying

This month our coalition meeting focuses on toxic friendships, bullying, and the impact on mental health. We tend to hear these terms often, either in conversations or on social media. But what do these actually mean?

Friends are an important aspect of life - they provide support emotionally and socially. Studies have also found that they can contribute to your wellbeing. However, there are some friendships that can impact you negatively. Here are some signs of a toxic friendship

December 2024

Adia Jada

A goal of the Connect-OC Coalition is to highlight the voices and work of young adults advocating for mental health and wellness. In this interview we speak with Adia who is a student at Cypress College and she shares with us about her involvement in a student club called Karma 4 Change and how compassion and resilience is what makes life meaningful for her.

July 2024

Monica Love

A goal of the Connect-OC Coalition is to highlight the voices and work of young adults advocating for mental health and wellness. In this interview we speak with Monica Love. Monica is a recent CSUF graduate and shares with us a bit about her current work, mental health advocacy, outlook on life, and how putting herself first has helped her get to know herself and make the best decisions she can.

May 2024

Ava Park

A goal of the Connect-OC Coalition is to highlight the voices and work of young adults advocating for mental health and wellness. In this interview we speak with Ava Park who is student at Orange County School of the Arts. Ava shares with us a bit about how art keeps her grounded, helps her approach hardships more efficiently and her hopes to bring free art therapy based initiatives and resources throughout schools in Orange County.

March 2024

Carolina Gutierrez

A goal of the Connect-OC Coalition is to highlight the voices and work of young adults advocating for mental health and wellness. In this interview we speak with Carolina Gutierrez who is student at California State University Fullerton, works as a Mental Wellness Peer Educator, and is currently a Connect-OC Intern. Carolina shares with us a bit about her choice to be involved as a mental health educator to express the importance of mental health and let others know that they are not alone.

January 2024

Ravali Vallurupalli

A goal of the Connect-OC Coalition is to highlight the voices and work of young adults advocating for mental health and wellness. In this interview we speak with Ravali Vallurupalli and she shares with us a bit about how family dynamics growing up has led her to pursue becoming a psychiatrist and youth mental health advocate