Transitions-Mental Health Association Receives $1,500 Grant from United Way of SLO County Youth Board

Transitions-Mental Health Association (TMHA) has been awarded a $1,500 grant from the United Way of SLO County Youth Board to support its high school program which provides mental health education, peer support training, and suicide prevention resources to students throughout San Luis Obispo County.

A nonprofit organization serving San Luis Obispo and North Santa Barbara Counties, TMHA is dedicated to eliminating stigma and promoting recovery and wellness for people living with mental illness through work, housing, community, and family support services.

The grant will help expand TMHA’s High School Program, which was established nine years ago following the tragic loss of a local student to suicide. In response, TMHA partnered with student leaders to create a program focused on mental health education and peer support, recognizing the critical role schools can play in promoting emotional well-being and early intervention.

Today, the program reaches more than 1,400 students each year, providing education centered on mental health awareness, prevention, emotional wellness, and access to local resources. Through interactive training, students learn how to recognize signs of mental health challenges, develop healthy coping strategies, and engage in supportive conversations with their peers.

The need for these services remains significant. Local data shows that 40% of students report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, while 18% report having seriously considered suicide within the past year. TMHA’s program addresses these challenges by equipping young people with practical tools to support themselves and others, while helping reduce the stigma often associated with mental health struggles.

Suicide prevention education is a key component of the program, teaching students how to recognize warning signs, respond with empathy, and connect peers to appropriate support resources. By fostering understanding, resilience, and peer connection, the program helps create healthier school communities and promotes lifelong mental wellness.

Funding from the UWSLOC Youth Board will support the continued growth of this important initiative, ensuring that more students across San Luis Obispo County have access to the knowledge, resources, and support they need to thrive.

Congratulations to Transitions-Mental Health Association on this well-deserved grant award and for its ongoing commitment to improving youth mental health and strengthening the well-being of our community.