By Fatima Pena on behalf of Mentis.
Originally published in Napa Valley Register on July 22, 2025
Since opening its new wellness campus in January, the Napa County nonprofit Mentis has been preparing for this moment — bringing free, daily wellness opportunities to young people all summer long.
Mentis offers a variety of mental health services year round for community members of all ages, ranging from residential and outpatient treatment to early intervention and care. Teens Connect, one of the organization’s cornerstone initiatives, uplifts the mental health and wellness of teens in Napa County. With a new facility on Hayes Street, Teens Connect has been able to host an array of events tailored specifically to promoting mental wellness among Napa County’s younger residents this summer.
“The world teens are facing is overwhelming and daunting,” said Mecaela Meerholz, Mentis director of operations. “It’s important to have an outlet for that energy.”
Mentis surveyed Teens Connect team members as well as other youth in the community who have been involved with Mentis over the years to curate a summer of activities to keep kids engaged. The programs began in June and are designed for participants ages 13 to 24.
Every Monday, the diverse programming kicks off with Youthful Yoga from 6 to 7 p.m. (ages 16-24). Creativity shines on Tuesdays from 1 to 4 p.m. during Creative Printmaking (ages 13-18). Wednesdays include “Ask a Therapist” Wellness Workshops (ages 13-18) from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Thursdays are packed with a Pickleball Clinic from 11 a.m. to noon (ages 13-16), Adulting 101 Workshops from 3 to 5 p.m. (ages 16-24), and Young Adults Hangouts from 7 to 9 p.m. (ages 18-24). The afternoon life-skills classes cover topics such as community financial wellness, resume-building, cooking and bilingual self-defense, reflecting the philosophy that caring for the whole person and their quality of life is necessary for mental wellness.
Drop-in Wellness Activities wrap up the week from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays (ages 13-19). In the art studio, kids can junk journal and bleach tie-dye shirts. In the gathering space, creative writing, crocheting and tea with a therapist are available, and on the sports court, pickleball, basketball, ping pong and wellness walks await.
While the activities change by day, one thing stays consistent: therapists and members of the Mentis team aim to create a supportive environment. “The people, the mentors and the staff are all really chill,” said Jacob Silver, a 14-year-old incoming sophomore at Vintage High School, as he admired his print drying in the sun during a recent Tuesday printmaking class.
During any of the summer programming, attendees are able to join a private and low-pressure conversation with peer counselors aged 18 to 26 to discuss anything they may be going through. All staff and counselors are trained in suicide prevention, and if the counselor deems an attendee needs it, the participant can be referred to Mentis therapists.
This connection is especially important for students who may not have structured summer plans. “I was excited to come because I’m not doing much during the summer,” said Otto Von Bates, a recent eighth grade graduate from Stone Bridge Magnet School who also attended a recent printmaking class.
On a recent Tuesday, 15 kids with blue aprons and arms stained dark with ink gathered around the printing press while Eric Muensterman demonstrated. Muensterman, a local print artist, has been teaching printmaking in Napa for the past eight years.
“I think art is healing,” he said. “You can express so much. You can take some things that are normally deep down and express them onto paper. I think art is therapy.”
To create a peaceful and welcoming setting, snacks like granola bars and popcorn were available to all the young artists and a wall of hand drawn posters with phrases like “spread kindness” and “love yourself” decorated the bright, freshly-painted walls.
Pax Duran, a Blue Oak Middle School eighth grader, noticed the atmosphere. “It’s pretty fun,” he said, after etching trees into his artwork. “It’s very kind and welcoming.”
While walk-ins for the summer programs are welcome, online reservations are encouraged. Weekly programing will continue through Aug. 22. Teens Connect will celebrate the end of summer with its third annual Youth Mental Health Festival on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is free and open to attendees ages 12-19, featuring more than 20 vendors, therapy dogs, meditation clinics and other hands-on activities.
Jessica Zepeda, the Prevention Program Manager at Mentis, explained how the festival is meant to help students “get a toolkit for the school year,” and learn various strategies they can utilize when life gets difficult and stressful.
Following the festival, Teens Connect will resume its usual monthly meetings and programming. Weekly activities will also continue at the new Wellness Campus, located at 1272 Hayes St. in Napa, but the programming schedule is not yet finalized.
For more information about all events available to young people, visit mentisnapa.org/teens-connect.