Clinic for physical and mental health opens at Washington Preparatory High School

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Free dental, physical and mental care is now within walking distance for many residents in South Los Angeles, an area that is typically starved for such services.

"The physical and mental services would be the most used," said Jacqueline Zendejas, a senior at Washington. "Students, whether they like it or not have to get things off their chest and sometimes they wouldn't consider their friends the best option because they don't know if one day they won't be there anymore or they'll go tell other people."

Zendejas dreams of a career in the medical field and says the clinic is inspiring.

Another community member, Kenneth Jones, came out to lend his support of the completed project.

"(There) shouldn't be anybody suffering at home because they have lack of medical attention or transportation," Jones said. "For many years, post-traumatic stress disorder has been overlooked and it's only been applied to U.S. veterans, but in actuality the children who grew up in gang-infested communities are under post-traumatic stress."

The center, which is being run by St. Johns Well Child, not only focuses on physical health, but has an emphasis on people's mental state as well. It will be a place for students and the community at large to get the help they need.

"We never had a clinic where they can go and be able to express themselves because a lot of people cannot relate to gang violence," Jones said. "Even if they never participated. But I grew up and live on the street with 14 boys and then one day when you get 45 you look up again and there's only two people still left standing."