Tess Corvera ‘26

Counselor Sivan welcomes all at their door on the 3rd floor.

With Summer Break approaching, it’s important to stay in tune with yourself. Prioritizing mental health is the key to having a successful, restful time off. Counselor Sivan Adato is a vital part of the SHC community, destigmatizing mental health and supporting students’ emotional well-being. The Emerald interviewed Counselor Sivan, discussing mental health and how to maintain it during the summertime. 

Emerald:  What challenges do many students face during the summertime that are often overlooked? 

Counselor Sivan:  Everyone is really excited about summer because you have lots of free time. But, we often don’t realize how much the structure and the routine of school actually supports us. So, there’s frequently too much unstructured time and not enough routine. We can get away from some of the things that we’re used to doing regularly that support us [and our mental health].

Emerald:  How does the lack of routine impact a student’s well being?  

Counselor Sivan:  Routines are really important because they give us a sense of consistency, predictability, and things to fall back on. We know what’s going on and we’re not spending too much time thinking about it. When the routine goes away, it can feel a little bit like we’re all over the place and free-floating, or things are less predictable. When we have things planned and know what to expect, it gives us a sort of a forward momentum feeling. If suddenly that structure goes away, and we don’t replace it with something, that can really throw us off.

Emerald: How can one create a healthy routine during the summer? 

Counselor Sivan:  Of course, during summer, we want to have downtime and not everything has to be planned. But it can be helpful to look at a week and to think about building a routine. Sometimes what happens is people like to have lots of fun, stay up late, and then we’re like not getting enough sleep, or we’re not eating well. Be thoughtful about finding a balance. Plan a few activities each week that align with your usual routine, such as working out, going for walks, spending time with friends – things that are familiar and create just a little structure.

Emerald:  What are some ways that students can combat “fear of missing out” (FOMO) and loneliness during the summer? 

Counselor Sivan:  One thing I encourage is to think about taking a break from social media. Social media isn’t always an accurate portrayal of the quality of somebody’s life or time. They’re just moments. The more that we spend looking at other people’s lives on social media, the more we miss out on our own life. This goes back to what I was saying before about routines and balance: think about things like, ‘how do I build in activities that I like to do that support me?’ And it can be really simple – there’s lots of fun, free activities in San Francisco over the summer, like festivals, just getting outside, being with friends, and doing small things. Focus on the things that you actually like to do and the people you like to be with. And do those things, and see those people. Don’t get sucked into what everybody else is doing.

Emerald:  What’s one key piece of advice that you would give students prioritizing their mental health over the summer? 

Counselor Sivan:  Think about ‘How do I take care of myself on all of the levels?’ Meaning my nutritional needs, my sleep needs, my friend time needs, my alone time needs, my likes and things I like to do, my spiritual needs, my mental health needs. Just thinking about it more broadly. How can I take care of myself? Not being afraid to ask for help if you need it is important.

Emerald: What resources are available for SHC students during the summer? 

Counselor Sivan:  I suggest students use these resources over the summer if needed, since we (school counselors and wellness/mental health counselors) are not available during that time. I encourage folks to talk to their parents or guardians ahead of time (and/or me) about referrals for therapy if they are interested in having services during the summer.

24/7 – 365 Mental Health Resources:

• 988 (Emergency Mental Health Hotline) or 911
• Crisis Text Line: text 741741
• SF Suicide Prevention Hotline: 415-781-0500
• Crisis Support Services of Alameda County: 800-309-2131
• Contra Costa County Crisis Center Hotline: 800-833-2900, text HOPE to 20121
• Marin Mobile Crisis Response Team: 415-473-6392
• San Mateo County StarVista Crisis Hotline (24/7/365): 650-579-0350
• Huckleberry House- 415-621-2929 (SF Youth Crisis Shelter- accepts all Bay Area Youth)
• Dreamcatcher Youth Shelter- 800-379-1114 (Oakland Youth Crisis Shelter- accepts all Bay Area Youth)
• Edgewood CSU- 415-681-3278 (SF Youth Mental Health Crisis Center)
• 211 (any California resident–free social services/community resources in your county, e.g. food banks/food distribution, housing, shelters, medical care, clothing, transportation, etc.)

Emerald: What are your top tips for taking care of one’s mental health during the summer? 

Counselor Sivan:  

1. Think about giving yourself a little bit of structure. Plan a couple of things in your week, whether that’s spending time with friends or getting out of the house. 
2. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep. 
3. Make sure you’re doing a good job with nutrition. 
4. Limit your social media. Get out of the house. Be in the world. 
5. Have fun! 
6. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! 
7. Don’t leave all your summer homework until the end.

Counselor Sivan has been a great addition to the SHC community. Make sure to stop by their office on the third floor across from the attendance office if you ever need a chat or just a piece of candy. Enjoy the rest of the school year and have a great summer, SHC!