At the Forefront of Youth Mental Health

June 1, 2025

Inside the Wellness Program at the Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos

“Just hit the ball as hard as you can. Pretend it’s Fruit Ninja.”

That’s what Mr. Alex, a Behavioral Support Specialist at the Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos (BGCSM), told a young Club member who was having a tough time managing his anger. Though hesitant at first, by the tenth swing, he was fully engaged, releasing the tension he had bottled up into his batting swings again and again without being prompted.

“I didn’t know I could express my anger in a different way,” he said to Mr. Alex, opening the door to a new path for managing his emotions.

This is just one example of the many creative and intentional approaches the Wellness Team at the Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos uses to support youth mental health.

“There are some kids who will close off if you ask them to talk about their feelings, so we have to find subtle ways to help them process those emotions,” said Mr. Alex.

But breakthroughs don’t happen overnight. They are the result of showing up consistently, patiently and without judgement. For Alex and his fellow Wellness Team members, consistency is key to building the kind of trust that helps our youth feel safe enough to express themselves and begin developing the tools they need to navigate their emotions in healthier ways.

Evolving to Meet Today’s Youth Mental Health Needs

In 2018, BGCSM became the first Boys & Girls Club in the region to integrate dedicated mental health support into its programming with the launch of the Wellness Program. What began as a small, responsive initiative to address the growing need for mental health services for youth has since expanded into a comprehensive, proactive support system embedded throughout the organization.

Today, all 2,500 kids and teens across our 13 Club sites have access to the program, with roughly 834 members currently receiving support through one-on-one counseling or interactive group sessions. Whether they’re building effective communication on the volleyball court or practicing mindfulness and self-care in the kitchen, every activity is rooted in the same mission: to help youth strengthen social-emotional development, foster resilience and equip them with positive ways to cope with life’s challenges.

Led by program director Amy Wechsler – who is a licensed clinical social worker – the wellness team includes a full-time program coordinator, two Behavioral Support Specialists, a Wellness Coach and social work interns. Together, they provide everything from crisis intervention and individual support to community referrals and preventative wellness education.

“These aren’t the kids we served 10 years ago,” said Wechsler, highlighting a rise in observed challenges related to attention and impulse control, difficulty with social interactions and symptoms of anxiety and depression among youth that have been on the rise over the last decade.

According to a report published by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, in 2024, around one in seven children and adolescents aged 10 to 19 were affected by mental health conditions, with anxiety, depression and behavioral disorders among the most common.

To meet these evolving needs, the Wellness Team acknowledges that it can’t rely on traditional approaches alone. Addressing mental health with youth requires creativity, flexibility and a deep understanding of how to make these lessons both engaging and relatable.

Behavioral Support Specialist Alejandra especially enjoys leading group sessions, where she can connect with youth in a meaningful way while reaching more kids at once.

“One of my favorite moments was when I made Thanos gloves with the kids,” she recalled. “I had them write a coping skill on each finger of the glove, and they added a gem to symbolize it – their own infinity gauntlet of coping skills. The kids really enjoyed the activity and made a powerful and real connection to the lesson.”

Equipping Staff to Recognize and Respond

In 2023, Rady’s Children’s Hospital reported a 30% post-pandemic increase in children experiencing mental health crises.

This statistic mirrors what our program staff are seeing at our Club sites – more youth are struggling at an alarming rate, and the need for mental health support is urgent.

“We’re just beginning to see how many new delays and challenges youth are facing as a result of the pandemic,” said Wechsler.

As these challenges become more prevalent, the Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos is not only expanding direct services but also ensuring that every adult on staff is prepared to step in with care and confidence. With a goal to certify 100% of staff in Youth Mental Health First Aid, BGCSM is equipping its entire team with the training they need to serve as the first line of support when a child needs it most. To date, 90% of Club staff are trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid.

The Big Picture: Supporting the Whole Child

Our mission has always been about helping kids reach their full potential, and today that means addressing mental health with the same care and intention we give to academic success and enrichment.

The Wellness Team is always looking ahead and piloting innovative ways to expand program offerings and deepen its positive impact at the Club. From introducing a wellness coach at our Double Peak School site to developing a pet therapy program, aligning strategic community partnerships and even streamlining internal processes that improve youth outcomes, the wellness team continues to trailblaze what's possible in the field of youth wellness.

While the pressures facing today’s youth are ever-changing, there is one thing we know for certain at the Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos: we can’t build great futures without making youth mental health a top priority.

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