When emotions become difficult to put into words, Jaylenn turns to movement, music and poetry.
The San Diego high school student found creative expression through transcenDANCE, one of many community-based programs supported by San Diego Foundation to help young people feel connected, supported and seen. Through performance and storytelling, young people explore creativity, build confidence and connect with their peers.
“There are so many different ways to express yourself. You don’t have to say it through words,” Jaylenn said. “Without the arts, I’d be lost.”
Jaylenn’s experience reflects conversations happening among young people across San Diego County — trying to better understand how to care for their mental wellbeing.
Mental Health in San Diego
Mental health continues to be one of the most urgent health concerns facing families across the region.
According to the 2025 San Diego Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), nearly half of adults and children in San Diego County say mental health seriously impacts their wellbeing.
The assessment, conducted collaboratively by the Hospital Association of San Diego & Imperial Counties, San Diego State University and hospitals across the region, highlights a growing need for accessible, community-based mental health support.
Dr. Andy Dang, Chief Medical Officer for Sharp Medical Group and a member of the San Diego Foundation Lotus Fund Advisory Council, says these conversations are becoming more visible and necessary.
“There’s been a stigma for a very long time,” Dang said. “But I think people acknowledge it more now. It’s being taught in schools more. There is no shame in it. We all deal with stuff.”
Dr. Dang emphasized that mental health and physical health are deeply connected, especially for young people navigating the pressures of everyday life.
“Mental health is how you care for yourself,” he said. “If you take care of both your mental and physical health, you end up succeeding better every day.”
Finding Support Through Community
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for supporting mental health concerns. This care looks different from person to person.
Some, like Jaylenn, find connection through creative expression. Others lean on trusted friends and family members, therapists, counselors or community programs that create space for honest conversations and emotional support.
For Olivia, a San Diego college student and intern at The BRIDGE Lab, another organization supported by San Diego Foundation, wrestling became a way to release stress and reset after difficult days.
“I can be having the worst day of my life, and then I go and have a good wrestling practice,” Olivia said. “After, I’m like, ‘Oh, the sun is shining. Everything’s nice.’”
Others describe the relief that comes from simply feeling heard.
“It feels like a weight off my shoulders,” said Taliyah, a local high school student involved with SAY San Diego, describing what it feels like to open up to someone she trusts. “I’m not carrying this heavy weight of this thought that I had in my head.”
For many young people, simply knowing they are not alone can make a meaningful difference.
“It’s okay to not be okay,” said Akane, another local student from SAY San Diego. “Express who you are and get any help you need.”
Investing in Community Wellbeing
Organizations like transcenDANCE, SAY San Diego and The BRIDGE Lab are part of a broader network of community-based programs helping young people feel heard and seen.
San Diego Foundation supports mental health programs through its Healthy Children & Families and Lotus Fund initiatives, investing in organizations that provide care, mentorship, creative outlets and safe spaces for youth and families across the region.
In 2025, SDF awarded more than $2.1 million to 34 local nonprofits supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children, youth and families throughout San Diego County.
These investments support programs that reduce stigma, strengthen community connections and help young people access support sooner.
For students like Jaylenn, Olivia, Taliyah and Akane, those spaces can make all the difference.
