Ohana Reimagines Mental Health for the Next Generation
With Ohana, Dr. Susan Swick is leading a shift from treating mental illness to building mental resilience from the start. Located in Monterrey County, California and funded by Bertie Bialek Elliot, the initiative treats mental health as a life skill. Ohana focuses on early childhood experiences, especially the parent- infant bond, and teaches families to view adversity as part of growth.
The center provides community education and practical tools to help children develop emotional agility and a strong sense of purpose, aiming to halt the mental health crisis before it begins.
“Research supports the notion that some adversity is necessary for psychological development. Resilience follows a U-shaped curve—too little hardship hinders growth, but too much can be overwhelming.”