Here at Venice High, mental health is a high priority on campus. 

Psychiatric social worker Rosa Escobar hopes to provide more students with the resources already available.

Some of these resources include Margaret’s Place (an organization that focuses on abuse, sexual emotional and physical, domestic violence and trauma), a sponsorship with Providence Saint John (which provides therapy for students), the Mental Health Advocacy Club (a club that brings light to the topic of mental health through discussions and activities). 

As a psychiatric social worker, Escobar also focuses on “depression, anxiety, school issues, and other problems that could be on the surface.”

“Mental health makes me think about how our thoughts, actions, and feelings co-exist with one another,” she said. “I believe it comes down to the ways that we take care of ourselves.”

The goals of most of the agencies on campus is to try and remove “barriers that may hold down a student from achieving the regular like school, outside activities, and hobbies,” Escobar said.  

There are so many resources on campus that there’s no issue too small to handle, Escobar said. 

If you ever notice a slight decline in the way that you are feeling, taking a break and letting your body speak may help heal what’s inside you, along with getting help from professionals, Escobar said.

“Sitting back and being present is something important,” she said. “Physical is also important, what are you doing or not doing to keep yourself healthy. Listening to your body is in my opinion the key to keeping a healthy balance, mental and physical.”