Meet Susan Parmelee | Licensed Clinical Social Worker & Executive DIrector

We had the good fortune of connecting with Susan Parmelee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Susan, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Founding the Wellness & Prevention Center was the result of community engagement and grassroots organizing that identified the need for more supportive services for youth and their families when it came to making healthy lifestyle choices. As the leader of a committee focused on lowering youth use of illicit substances and improving mental health, my background in business administration and social work, guided me in writing a program for our local high school that was dangerously short of staff to support the social emotional health of young people. When the school district approved the program, it became essential that I make it happen. We incorporated the non-profit and began raising funds to support the organization. I now see that I fell into this as a way of changing how youth and families access supportive services – primarily mental health therapy – as the current system is broken. A lot of the thought process has been reactive and I am thankful that we have grown enough that we can be more intentional and strategic in how we grow our organization. I also appreciate that I have the ability to create a positive work culture for our team that encourages growth and development while also stressing work life balance.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Advocate for change. My journey has included time spent in the business world, over 31 years being a mom, 33 years of marriage, and a switch in careers to mental health social work. What I learned I valued most was advocating for change, particularly for youth in middle and high school, who continue to be faced with new challenges. When we started the Wellness & Prevention Center in 2014, we were witnessing a rise in rates of death by suicide and youth use of alcohol., marijuana, and most alarmingly heroin as a party drug. Substance use is down, however youth 12-25 are now increasingly presenting with symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts. and completions. Accessing quality mental health support is very difficult and health care insurers are not properly reimbursing for care. My organization offers mental health graduate students the opportunity to learn through internships, provides an open door to all youth ages 12-25 on school campuses and in the community to access care, we also train upper class high school students and college students in peer support. We strive to fill the gaps in care and prepare professionals and paraprofessionals to enter the workforce. At the same time we advocate for change and enforcement in parity laws that require health insurers to cover mental health conditions the same as medical health conditions. Finally, we provide universal education to youth and parents about caring for your mental health and wellbeing and knowing when behaviors and symptoms require professional assessment and treatment.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In the Orange County area here are my favorites: Day or two at the beach, Crystal Cove and Laguna Beach would be my top choices
A cultural event at Segerstrom Performing Arts Center – music or ballet are my favorites
Old Town Orange and the Hilbert Museum of Art at Chapman and dinner at Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen
An evening stroll through old town San Juan Capistrano and dinner at Mayfield
A Sunday afternoon at the Angels Game or a Ducks Hockey Game
and a dinner in my backyard with a long night chatting around the fire pit.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to recognize Leslie Davis, who pulled me into leadership of the San Clemente Collaborative and allowed me to sit with other social justice oriented individuals and to contribute to making our community better.

Website: wpc-oc.org

Instagram: wpc0c

Facebook: Wellnessandpreventioncenterschs