Press Releases

In March of 2021, mental health advocate Lee MacMillan tragically lost her battle with depression. She was 28. However, her legacy of advocacy lives on... 

Mental Wellness Center (MWC) is partnering with SeaVees, the Santa Barbara-based shoe company, to support mental health education for local youth throughout Santa Barbara with a shoe that gives back to the community. 

The holiday season is upon us, and for many it’s not the happiest season of all. While celebrations can bring positive feelings like love and connection, according to the American Psychological Association, 38% of Americans say their stress actually gets worse during the holidays, bringing about negative emotions like fatigue... 

Jaan Landheer is has joined the Mental Wellness Center as the new program manager for the Fellowship Club. Born and raised in Santa Barbara, Landheer returned to his hometown after graduating from UC Santa Cruz to become a street outreach worker. Landheer brings experience working with young adults and children with mental health challenges... 

The pandemic has led to one of the greatest periods of job loss, career changes and a restructuring of how work is performed, (i.e., working remotely, flexible schedules, etc.). While much of this has deeply impacted the economic wellbeing of millions of Americans and has caused stress and disruption, there may be some longer-term positive outcomes... 

Sophie Suh, Mental Wellness Center’s Wellness Connection Council member, is among the transformational students participating in the center’s newest program, Wellness Connection. The Wellness Connection is a high school leadership program of the Mental Wellness Center that educates, empowers and...

The Mental Wellness Center has added Scott Lochridge to its board of directors. Lochridge is an executive and strategic advisor to multinational corporations, nonprofits, and early-stage companies. He has four decades of experience working with CEOs and executive teams to create and scale effective organizations; develop strategies for growth; create new capabilities; pursue market...

Alice Villarreal Redit has joined the Board of Directors at the Mental Wellness Center (MWC). Villarreal Redit has been employed with the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) since 1997. She worked for 10 years in the HACSB housing management department before joining the resident services team in 2007....

Debra Eagle, General Manager of Alma Rosa Winery, a leading wine producer from Santa Barbara County’s Sta. Rita Hills, is thrilled to announce that the winery’s second annual Peace of Mind: 10,000 Steps in the Right Direction fundraiser raised $177,896 More than 150 participants gathered at the base of Alma Rosa’s 628-acre estate on the morning of...

The Mental Wellness Center, in partnership with PBS, will host a free virtual event and live panel discussion about the new PBS documentary series “Mysteries of Mental Illness.” The event, which will feature preview clips of and conversation about the series, takes place 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 13 via Zoom...

The Alma Rosa Winery in Santa Barbara is hosting its second annual fundraising event on July 24 to raise funds for two mental health nonprofits: Mental Wellness Center in Santa Barbara and One Mind. The Mental Wellness Center is a nonprofit that provides services and raises awareness about mental illness....

Since 1947, the Mental Wellness Center has been building hope for individuals and families, providing support in recovery and raising awareness of mental health within the Santa Barbara community. And thanks to the generous support of community members like you, the Mental Wellness Center continues to provide safe programming, education and housing to those we serve...

Alma Rosa Winery, a leading producer of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Santa Barbara County’s Sta. Rita Hills AVA, will host its second-annual Peace of Mind—10,000 Steps in the Right Direction fundraising walk on July 24, 2021. Conceived by Alma Rosa Winery proprietors Bob and Barb Zorich, who have a long history of supporting mental health-related...

Some COVID-19 restrictions are lifting in Santa Barbara County, and according to local mental health care providers, so are some people’s spirits, just in time for Mental Health Awareness Month. Others, though, are feeling anxious at the thought of returning to normal life.Many have become comfortable with their pandemic routines, and residents’ lives...

Parents, teachers, and Santa Barbara County professionals who work with youth ages 12-18 are encouraged to participate in a free, upcoming Youth Mental Health First Aid training, which teaches participants how to support youth struggling with a mental health or substance abuse problem. Free online trainings will be offered 9 a.m.-2 p.m. May 4 and 20; June 3 and 15; July 8 and 20; Aug. 10 and 19...

Julie Kessler Solomon has been named chair of the Mental Wellness Center Board of Directors. Also joining the board are Eric Jackson and LaRisa Chambers. Solomon, a former marketing executive, is a Realtor with Compass in Santa Barbara.Her passion for improving the conditions for mental health in the community developed from...

The Mental Wellness Center’s Fellowship Club has provided a safe space and access to resources and activities for adults living with a mental health diagnosis for nearly 60 years. Personal challenges and social isolation caused by the pandemic have increased the...

November is National Family Caregivers Month, making it the perfect time to celebrate caregivers as we enter the holiday season. Over 53 million Americans are unpaid caregivers to family and friends, with a third caring for a loved one with mental illness. Caregiving can take a significant toll on the caregiver...

Mental health is an essential part of overall health, which is why having open dialogues and encouraging people to ask for help are important. Especially in these challenging times, knowing where to find resources when...Community members can sign up now to participate in a virtual....

Alma Rosa Winery, a wine producer from Santa Barbara County’s Sta. Rita Hills, has launched the first Peace of Mind — 10,000 Steps in the Right Direction, a month-long fundraiser benefiting Mental Wellness Center and One Mind.Community members can sign up now to participate in a virtual....

A growing number of people are facing mental health challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to two prominent Santa Barbara County-based organizations. It has been estimated that up to one-third of the community is experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression since...

Andrea (Andy) Carnaghe has rejoined the Mental Wellness Center (MWC) Board of Directors.Since joining the MWC Board of Directors in 2010, Carnaghe has volunteered on the board for more than a decade, serving on several committees including finance, audit and nominating committees, as well as previously...

Amanda Conroy, a skilled fundraising and marketing professional in the nonprofit sector, has been promoted to Development & Marketing Director for the Mental Wellness Center. Amanda Conroy completed her undergraduate studies at UC Santa Barbara, where she graduated with a dual...

Our lives and sense of well-being have been severely impacted by the stresses imposed on us by the worry, fear and financial concerns caused by COVID-19, the ensuing lockdown and upheaval to daily lives, so much so that clinical anxiety has increased close to 20 percent during the first...

Family Service Agency of Santa Barbara County (FSA), Mental Wellness Center and the Youthwell Coalition have partnered to provide Youth Mental Health First Aid trainings that give adults who work with youth an action plan for reaching out and offering...

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), an organization providing education, support and advocacy for individuals and families impacted by mental health conditions, will return to the Santa Maria area following a several-year absence “We are pleased to...

Mental Wellness Center has announced former marketing executive Julie Kessler Solomon has joined its Board of Directors. Solomon brings her commitment to local community organizations. She has served as board chair for the Phoenix of Santa...

When the nationwide Great Recession hit in the late 2000s, Santa Barbara’s Mental Wellness Center felt its deep impact. The center had moved into a new building in 2009, but financial struggles left many spaces in the large building unused. The Santa...

The Mental Wellness Center in Santa Barbara works largely under the radar, but its impact has permeated Santa Barbara County for more than 70 years, destigmatizing mental illness and breaking down the barriers of fear that can often separate...

For more than 70 years, the Mental Wellness Center has offered programs for adults and youths aimed at promoting communication and understanding about mental health. The center’s programs reach young people through school clubs and class...

In the words of one of the first Santa Barbara participants in a free, new course for people experiencing mental health challenges, “Now I realize that my illness is real, but not my fault. I am in recovery at last.” Offered by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental...

The Mental Wellness Center (MWC) will host its 25th Annual Mental Health Arts Festival at De La Guerra Plaza, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, July 13, honoring the work of local artists living with mental illness, and celebrating the power of creative expression...

The Mental Wellness Center (MWC) held its first ever Stigma Buster Celebration May 1 in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month and the efforts of its local graduates and partners.About 100 supporters gathered at MWC’s Fellowship Club, which by day...

Community members are invited to participate in the Conover Classic Charity Pool Tournament, Sunday, April 14, in honor of Pete Conover. Conover was an avid pool player who loved a good game, but most importantly he loved playing with friends...

There’s a movement starting in Santa Barbara. Parents, teachers, and others who work with youth ages 12-18 are encouraged to “be the difference” by learning how to reach out support youth struggling with a mental health or substance abuse problem...

There’s a movement starting in Santa Barbara. Parents, teachers, and others who work with youth ages 12-18 are encouraged to “be the difference” by learning how to reach out support youth struggling with a mental health or substance abuse problem...

Fund for Santa Barbara Supports Youth for Better Mental Health Youth Wellness Connection Receives Grant for High School Wellness CampaignThe Fund for Santa Barbara has awarded a grant to the Youth Wellness Connection (YWC), a youth...

Meeting the community’s mental health and spiritual and emotional wellness in response to the Thomas Fire and Jan. 9 debris flow is the goal of the newly established Community Wellness Team.Led by the Santa Barbara County’s Department of...

The Fund for Santa Barbara has awarded a grant to train an instructor in Youth Mental Health First Aid, the Mental Wellness Center has announced.Mental Health First Aid is a one-day course taught by laypeople to others so they will know the signs and...

To honor the work of local artists living with mental illness, and celebrate the power of creative expression, the Mental Wellness Center will host its 23rd annual Mental Health Arts Festival 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 15, at De La Guerra PlazaThe free festival...

The Mental Wellness Center will kick off Mental Health Month in May with its 6th Annual 5K Walk for Mental Wellness on Friday, May 5, at East Beach Bathhouse, 1118 E. Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara.The Sunset Beach Walk will begin with an opening ceremony at...

The Mental Wellness Center, Santa Barbara City College Wellness Connection, and San Marcos High School Wellness Connection Club are bringing the film The Love Effect to Santa Barbara and the community is invited to join the movement.A free screening of...

The Mental Wellness Center has announced the appointments of Ned Emerson and Vickie Gonzales to its board of directors.Emerson brings over four decades of business and sales experience to the Mental Wellness Center’s board. He served as a sales...