This piece is by Isabel Mercado, a writer and a senior at Ventura High School.

Anxious. The word itself when muttered trembles out of your mouth with the worrisome fear it is being a nuisance in your vocabulary. The “x” in Anxious is much like the feeling, unexpected and quite frankly, uncalled for. Break this word into syllables, An-xious, each flustered on the tip of my tongue...

This article is based on resources provided by Ventura County Behavioral Health.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among young people aged 16 to 19. Teen drivers are more likely than older drivers to underestimate or not recognize dangerous situations. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a 2011 survey of middle and high school students showed that the number of...

Written by a Ventura County high school student.

I have always been curious about my sexuality. I never knew what I was, but I knew I liked girls and boys. I remember feeling tingly whenever I saw a beautiful woman or feeling a wave of shivers down my back whenever a gorgeous woman touched me. This would happen with guys too, but I always knew I liked the male gender. 

I think my...

The following article is from Mental Health America’s website.

July was designated as Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in 2008 to bring awareness to the unique struggles that underrepresented groups face in regard to mental illness in the United States (US).

While the term ‘minority’ is traditionally associated with racial, ethnic, or cultural minorities within the US,...

This post was written by Aiden Choi, a senior at the Davidson Academy in Reno, Nevada.

For the past few decades, American obesity rates have been rising at an alarming rate and noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, have long since overtaken contagious diseases as the primary cause of death. Time and time again, studies have shown that sugar in the diet is a huge...

How High Ventura County is an online resource from Ventura County Behavioral Health that addresses the growing need in Ventura County for facts to educate teens and their families about marijuana use. How High Ventura County is a health initiative designed to teach parents and youth that marijuana affects teens differently. From their website,

“It’s not about politics. It’s...

This post was written by Aiden Choi, a senior at the Davidson Academy in Reno, Nevada.

Undeniably, alcohol has had a profound effect on human history. In the “Epic of Gilgamesh,” regarded as one of the earliest forms of known literature, the drinking of alcohol is equated to the participation of civilization. During their journey aboard the Mayflower, beer served as the...

Brought to you by Ventura County Responds and Ventura County Behavioral Health.

KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE

Child-resistant doesn’t mean child-proof. Secure your prescription and over-the-counter medications, including medical cannabis, out-of-reach from young children as well as teens. Child-resistant packaging helps but is no guarantee of safety.

• Properly dispose of expired and unused...

Brought to you by Ventura County Responds and Ventura County Behavioral Health.

SAFE AND SECURE RX DRUG DISPOSAL

Ventura County is actively engaged and committed to preventing prescription drug misuse and abuse. One of the ways the County works to address the issue locally is by reducing access, especially to teens. The VCSO, in collaboration with Ventura County Behavioral Health (VCBH),...

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, here are some tips on how to support people you may know who deal with mental illness. 

It can be challenging to know what to say to someone who is struggling with mental illness. Whether it’s a chronic issue that is temporarily worsened, or a new challenge that’s just emerged, many people ask “what should I say?” or...

This post was written by a Ventura County college student.

My Friends’ Story Started With Having Fun With Marijuana And Ended With No Future

This piece is for those that want to say in the future, “My teenage years were so cool.”

Forty years ago I was a teenager, a very hectic and social teenager.  Being exposed to many positive and sad experiences, I realized that I...

As part of the Department of Ventura County Healthcare Agency, Ventura County Behavioral Health has created new online resources for teens, parents, families, and individuals within Ventura County who might be struggling with addiction, underage and binge drinking, prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse, cannabis use, mental health issues, and suicide prevention. Their website, Ventura...