The San Diego College of Continuing Education (SDCCE) celebrated the grand opening of its Be Well CCE Mental Health and Wellness Center on September 3, 2025, at the Educational Cultural Complex (ECC) in Southeastern San Diego. The center is the first in the nation designed specifically for noncredit adult learners, providing a safe, stigma-free space to access mental health resources and support.                

The Be Well Center offers free mental health counseling services, referrals for long-term therapy, and holistic wellness programming. These services are especially impactful for SDCCE students, many of whom come from underserved communities, are immigrants, or are seeking new opportunities in the United States. The center builds upon SDCCE’s long-standing commitment to equity and its tuition-free career training certificate programs.

“This has been a year and a half in the making, and I am incredibly excited to see our Be Well Center come to fruition and how students will utilize this space,” said Shakerra Carter, Ed.D., Vice President of Student Services. “Having one central location at ECC where our students can access mental health is just the beginning. We plan to expand across all seven SDCCE campuses.”

Jeremy Garcia, Mental Health Counselor, emphasized the importance of early intervention, “mental health should not just be responsive, but preventative. We want to meet students where they are, help destigmatize mental health, and set them up for long-term academic and career success.”

Standing inside the new space, Janisha Street, Mental Health Coordinator, described the impact for students, “it is an absolute dream to be here. We have students who come from all over the world to try to make a difference in their lives. Sometimes it can be difficult to transition into a different culture and community, and what Continuing Education does here is try to make it safer for everyone involved, to give students the most positive educational outcome.” Street and Garcia are joined by Mental Health Counselor and native Spanish speaker Elizabeth Barajas, who provides additional multilingual support.

Launched virtually in 2022, the Be Well program has grown from part-time online support into a full-time, on-campus resource. The September 3rd opening represents a milestone in advancing equitable healthcare and wellness access for students of color, immigrants, and working adults.

SDCCE President Tina M. King, Ed.D., highlighted the broader vision behind the center, “we have worked hard to not only establish a mental health program but to build a comprehensive ecosystem of services that reflects the diverse students we serve. At San Diego College of Continuing Education, we believe mental wellness is foundational to student success. The Be Well Center embodies our commitment to creating an inclusive, supportive environment where every learner—regardless of background—can find the resources they need to thrive. This means creating safe spaces where our students see themselves represented in both support services and future careers.”

With students representing 149 countries, SDCCE ensures that anyone enrolled in at least one class can access mental health and wellness services.

For more information about Be Well or SDCCE’s free career training programs and classes, visit SDCCE.edu.