Mental Health Resources
Crisis Contact Information
- National Crisis and Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
- Crisis Text Line: Text “HELLO” to 741741
- Trevor Lifeline (LGBTQIA+ Youth): 1-866-488-7386
- County of Santa Clara’s Suicide and Crisis Hotline 24/7: 1-855-278-4204
- County of San Mateo’s StarVista Crisis Hotline 24/7: 1-650-579-0350
- Emergencies: Call or Text 911 and ask for Crisis Intervention Trained (CIT) officer
Additional Crisis Resources and Websites
- County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services 24/7
- County of San Mateo Crisis Services
- Crisis Text Line
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
- The Trevor Project (LGBTQIA+ Youth)
Local Counseling and Support Groups
- Adolescent Counseling Services (ACS)
- allcove Palo Alto
- Asian American Community for Community Involvement (AACI)
- ASPIRE at El Camino Hospital
- Bay Area Children’s Association (BACA)
- Caminar
- Children’s Health Council (CHC)
- Counseling and Support Services for Youth (CASSY)
- Kara Grief Support
- La Clínica Latina at the Granowski Center (Palo Alto University)
- La Selva Community Clinic
- Momentum for Health
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – Santa Clara County
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – San Mateo County
- Outlet (A Program of ACS, LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Services)
- Parents of Vision – A Faith Based Support Group
- SELPA 1 CAC (Special Needs Support and Education)
- The LGBT Youth Space
- The Q Corner
Parent and Youth Education Resources
- 41 Developmental Assets (via Project Cornerstone)
- Abilities United
- Acknowledge Alliance
- Adolescent Counseling Services “99 Tips For Talking with Your Teenager“
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, E-Resource Center
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- American Psychological Association: The Road to Resilience
- Anxiety Disorders Association of America
- Bring Change 2 Mind
- Challenge Success Education Videos
- Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation
- Children’s Health Council Community Education
- Depression Bipolar Support Alliance
- Developmental Relationships Framework (via Youth Community Service Youth Connectedness Initiative)
- Each Mind Matters
- First 5 Santa Clara County
- Hand in Hand Parenting
- HEARD Alliance K-12 Toolkit for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention
- Know the Signs: Suicide Education
- Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Community Education
- Mission B Mindfulness Education
- My Digital Tat2
- NIMH, Depression in Children & Adolescents
- Palo Alto Medical Foundation Community Education
- Palo Alto Medical Foundation Pre-Teen Health Education
- Palo Alto Medical Foundation Teen Health Education
- Parent’s Place
- Parent’s Project (via Palo Alto Police Dept. and PAUSD)
- Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) Online Training (via Santa Clara County)
- Reachout.com
- SafeSpace
- Take 5 to Save Lives
- The Suicide Prevention Resource Center
- To Be Honest
Local Youth Groups – Advocacy, Community Service, Peer Support, Leadership
Youth Connect
A program of Youth Community Service: YCS Youth Connect is made up of interconnected programs where youth lead service-learning projects after school and on their school campuses to address critical issues in our community. Peer Leaders, Advocates, and YCS Corps allow students to find service projects that best fit their interests.
Further Reading & Other Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention Resources
- “Faith Communities Task Force” – The task force leads Action Alliance efforts to engage faith communities in suicide prevention
- “Suicide in California – Data Trends in 2020, COVID Impact, and Prevention Strategies” – Webinar from CA Department of Public Health. (July 2021)
- “We See You: Why America Must Invest in Young Adults of Color”, Angela Glover Blackwell (January 2021)
- “Meeting the Moment: Understanding EPSDT and Improving Implementation in California to Address Growing Mental Health Needs” – Report by California Children’s Trust, National Center for Youth Law, National Health Law Program (January 2021)
- Chapter 15, Youth Ministry and Suicide: What I Learned in Crisis, authored by Chris Miller, Ed.D., in “Responding to Suicide: A Pastoral Handbook for Catholic Leaders” (November 2020) includes Project Safety Net and Palo Alto community suicide prevention efforts. Dr. Miller writes about his experiences working as a youth ministry coordinator in Palo Alto, CA and with Project Safety Net.
- National Center for Health Statistics Data Brief: “Death Rates Due to Suicide and Homicide Among Persons Aged 10–24: United States, 2000–2017” (October 2019)
- “Characteristics and Mental Health of Gender Nonconforming Adolescents in California” Fact Sheet by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research (December 2017)
- Raising the Bar for Youth Suicide and Prevention by Orygen The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health
- Looking the Other Way: Young People and Self Harm by Orygen The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health
- When a Child’s Friend Dies By Suicide by Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide
- Talking to Your Kids About Suicide by Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide
- Moving Through Grief Toward Hope and Meaning: Ways to Support Children in Coping with Trauma and Loss by Kara
- “Suicide Postvention: The Role of the School Community After a Suicide”– Webinar Archive from Kognito
- “Public Health Surveillance of Youth Suicide Attempts: Challenges and Opportunities” – Injury Control Research Center for Suicide Prevention
- “The Good Behavior Game: An Effective Classroom Tool for Suicide Prevention” – Webinar Archive from the Injury Control Research Center for Suicide Prevention
- Fairfax County Public Schools Case Study- Kognito
- “Transforming Communities- Key Elements for Comprehensive Community Based Suicide Prevention” by the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
- “Preventing Suicide- A Technical Package of Policy, Programs and Practices” by National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Division of Violence Prevention
- “13 Reasons Why” Talking Points co-authored by SAVE.org and the JED Foundation
- “13 Reasons Why” Netflix Series: Considerations for Educators by NASP
- “Best Practices For Messaging Safely on Suicide” by Dr. Dan Reidenberg
- A Systemic Review of School-Based Interventions Aimed at Preventing, Treating, and Responding to Suicide Related Behavior in Young People
- Suicide and Bullying – Issue Brief, Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC)
- Cyberbullying and Suicide – Cyerbullying Research Center, Dr. Sameer Hinduja & Dr. Justin Patchin
- Youth Suicide Prevention Guidelines for California Schools 2005 – Department of Education, State of California – see ‘Publication’ section
- “Out of the Darkened Room: When a Parent is Depressed: Protecting the Children and Strengthening the Family”, Beardslee, Little Brown, 2002
- “Helping your anxious child: A step by step guide”, Rapee et al, New Harbinger, 2000
- “Helping your teenager beat depression: A problem-solving approach for families”, Manassis & Levac, Woodbine House, 2004
- “Eight Stories Up: An Adolescent Chooses Hope over Suicide”, Levine & Brent, Oxford University Press, 2008 (From the Adolescent Mental Health Initiative, of the Annenberg Public Policy Center)
- “The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook”, Bourne, New Harbinger, 2005
- “Uncommon Sense for Parents with Teenagers”, revised ed., Michael Riera, PhD, Celestial Arts, 2004
- “Surviving Your Adolescents: How to Manage and Let Go of Your 13-18 year olds”, 2nd ed. Thomas Phelan, PhD, CMI, 1998
- “The Good Enough Child: How to Have an Imperfect Family and Be Totally Satisfied”, Brad Sachs, PhD, Quill, 2001
- “The Confident Child: Raising Children to Believe in Themselves”, Terri Apter, PhD, Bantam, 1997
Project Safety Net
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available right now. Reaching out is a sign of strength — and there are people ready to listen. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial 9-8-8 (call or text, 24/7) Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741741 Trevor Project (LGBTQIA+): Text START to 678-678 or call 1-866-488-7386 Trans Lifeline (trans & nonbinary peer support): Call 877-565-8860
Disclaimer: YCS and PSN are not Medical Providers and do not Provide Medical Services. It is understood by all persons who use YCS and PSN’s services that: (a) YCS and PSN are not medical providers and do not render medical or other health care services or treatments to any and all persons who use YCS and PSN’s services and YCS and PSN’s services are not intended to or shall be interpreted as imposing, any duty or obligation to provide such health care services; (b) YCS and PSN are not in any way responsible for the health care that is delivered by a health care provider to any and all persons who use YCS and PSN’s services; (c) health care providers are solely responsible for the health care they deliver to any and all persons using YCS and PSN’s services; and (d) health care providers are not YCS and PSN’s agents or employees.