Costa’s Allcove student advisors paved the way for youth mental health awareness early this month, taking advocacy beyond Manhattan Beach and into the heart of San Francisco. As members of the Allcove Student Board, they traveled to the Bay Area to collaborate with other peers to exchange ideas and strategies to break down barriers surrounding mental health.
Allcove is redefining youth mental health organizations by creating spaces designed with, by, and for young people. Allcove centers provide a safe, inclusive environment where each center adapts to the unique needs of its local community. It is here where they offer services to students that promote mental wellness and work with student advisors to reduce stigma around mental illnesses.
“As part of the youth advisory group, I design and co-create with my other youth advisors a space in the beach city health District, where you can go to seek different resources that they may need or even just to relax or study,” Costa Junior and Allcove Student Advisor Lachlan Murphy said.
“Allcove provides free services for people ages 12 to 25, including stress relief services, emotional management support, free therapy, and pure support specialists,” Murphy reiterated. The organization also offers snacks, study spaces, and relaxation centers.
“[Mental health] is a very real thing, and a lot of people’s mental health is worse than they think,” Murphy said. “With the proper support from services like Allcove, we can make a difference in the way that we support each other. ”
Emphasizing a unique approach of ‘for the young and by the young,’ Allcove’s Youth Advisory Groups give voices to kids and teens who are the recipients of these services and programs. Youth Advisors, young leaders ages 16-25, provide Allcove with valuable guidance, solutions, and insight into supporting the needs of youth in the community. Likewise, Allcove emphasizes the importance of representing diverse backgrounds, seen through their various backgrounds across race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, and socioeconomic status.
“I was inspired to get involved in youth mental health when one of my own friends was struggling and I didn’t know how to help them properly,” Murphy said. “I hoped that through this program I could gain a better understanding of what they were going through.”
Allcove’s Student Advisory Board traveled to San Francisco from Feb. 28 to Mar. 1, gaining insights into how cultural influences shape experiences and approaches to local issues, recognizing that Manhattan Beach’s low population density is a small challenge compared to housing insecurity and urban congestion other cities face.
“I think some of the most pressing mental health challenges are just stress from school competition, getting into college, and pressure from family,” Murphy said. “It can be exacerbated by substance abuse, drug abuse, and alcohol abuse as well.”
Murphy also finds that a key issue that arises in mental health awareness: the affordability of services. Oftentimes, there are price barriers for people in East LA that low-income families might not be able to afford. Allcove’s Student Advisory Board addresses this by breaking these walls and providing free services that are stigma-free, encouraging people to seek the help that they need in a way that suits their circumstances and any given financial situation.
“I think there’s self-internalized stigma, and disbelief that they [teens] could be overworked,” Murphy said. “The power dynamic between adults and children may not be thinking that youth feelings are valid.”
Serving on the Allcove Student Board is more than just an opportunity to advocate for mental health—it’s also a personal journey of growth and self-awareness. Through conversations about emotional well-being and stress management, board members are able to contribute to systemic change and reflect on their own mental health journey. An exposure to different perspectives and coping strategies allows them to build resilience and a stronger understanding of how to support others.
“Since I joined the board, I think I definitely have been more present and aware of how to also deal with my own feelings as well,” Murphy said. “I’ve definitely learned a lot of different strategies to help people develop coping mechanisms and deal with stress better.”
By fostering a safe space, youth advisors help remove obstacles that frequently keep young people from seeking help. While the path to achieving mental wellness isn’t always straightforward, having a community that understands and uplifts each other makes all the difference, according to Murphy.
“This is something that’s made by youth for youth,” Murphy said. “No matter how you’re feeling, there are always resources to help you. You just have to take that first step and reach out.”
Juniors Lachlan Murphy, Isabelle Boroch, and Leilani Tran visit San Francisco and gain valuable insight on how to better support their peers in addressing mental health challenges. Photo by Cindy Carcamo.
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