Mental Health Matters – May is Mental Health Month
Veronica Hernandez – Lead Mentor – Peace Mentor Program
Mental Health Matters
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
For TKF, this means working in partnership with school administrators, counselors, and social workers to address the social-emotional needs of the students we serve.
A September 2024 article by SchoolsThatLead.Org revealed that 42% of high school students experience depression, anxiety, and other mental health struggles.
This is why TKF has expanded its efforts to provide additional support through our Peace Educator Mentor Program. Since July 2023, TKF has partnered with schools in Vista Unified, alongside our ongoing collaboration wih San Diego Unified.
We’ve significantly strengthened our mentor training by incorporating 16 hours of mental health education and trauma-informed care training. In addition to this foundational instruction, our mentors receive consistent, hands-on support through weekly mental health check-ins, school site visits, and peer-to-peer mentoring.
This deep commitment to mental wellness not only equips our mentors to better support students—it also inspires many of them to continue their education and pursue careers dedicated to working with youth. One such mentor, is our very own San Diego Lead Mentor Veronica Hernandez, who holds a BA in Psychology, was recently accepted into the Master’s program in Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of San Diego.
This Mental Health Awareness Month, we invite you to make a direct impact.
Your donation will help provide the resources needed to support both our mentors and students as they navigate challenges. Together, we can continue to build a brighter, healthier future for the children we serve!
