California Health and Human Services

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Digital mental health support for youth, young adults, and families.

A groundbreaking new program providing free, safe, and confidential mental health support for young people and families across the state with two easy-to-use mobile apps:

BrightLife Kids A CalHOPE program by Brightlife

Get support with the tough stuff & help your child thrive.

Behavioral health coaching for parents, caregivers, and children 0–12.

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soluna

Your space to explore your mental health journey.

Confidential support for 13- to 25-year-olds in California.

 

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Back-to-School Resources

Resources to support you, your family or friends.

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988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Call or Text 988
Operating Hours: 24/7

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CalHOPE

Call or Chat: 833-317-4673
Operating Hours: 24/7

Mental Health Resources for Youth

We all need help sometimes. You are not alone.

It’s okay to not feel okay. We all feel sad, anxious, upset or angry sometimes. If you, your family or friends need someone to talk to, contact any of the following organizations:

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Operating Hours: 24/7

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis, the Lifeline network is available 24/7.

Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org.

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CalHOPE

Operating Hours: 24/7

CalHope offers safe, secure, and culturally sensitive emotional support for all Californians who have experienced emotional challenges.

Call or chat: 1-833-317-4673

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Youth Crisis Line

Operating Hours: 24/7

A  24/7 statewide emergency response system for youth (ages 12-24) and families in crisis.

Call or text 800-843-5200

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LGBT Youth TalkLine

Operating Hours: M-F 1pm – 9pm Sat. 9am – 2pm (Pacific)

A safe space where you can open up and talk about coming out, bullying, isolation, identity, family issues and much more. Anonymous and confidential.

Call 800-246-7743

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Trans Lifeline

A peer support phone service run by trans people for our trans and questioning peers. Call us if you need someone trans to talk to, even if you’re not in crisis or if you may not yet identify as trans.

Call 877-565-8860

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The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project provides free and confidential information and support to LGBTQ young people 24/7, all year round. You can connect to a crisis counselor via chat, phone or text message. 

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Teen Line

Operating Hours: 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. PT

Feeling unwell? Lonely? Scared? When you call or text Teen Line, another teen will be there to listen and help. No issue is too big or too small. 

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24/7 Warm Line

Talk to someone about anything that is bothering you – whether it be relationships, finances, anxiety, sadness or other challenges.

Call 855-845-7415 or Instant Message

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Know the Signs

Help prevent suicide by learning about the warning signs, how to offer help, and find local resources.

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Local Help & Support

If you want help connecting to a mental health professional, you can find resources based in the county where you live.

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CA vs. Hate

Free support is available to victims and witnesses who report hate. CA vs Hate is not affiliated with law enforcement, and your report can be made anonymously, regardless of immigration status.

Call 800-246-7743

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The Family Urgent Response System (FURS)

Operating Hours: 24/7

Call, text, chat, and in-person support for children and youth (up to age 21) who have spent time in foster care and for their caregivers. No issue is too big or too small; call or text FURS at 1-833-939-3877 or visit the Cal-Furs website for live chat.

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All Connected

All Connected is a free resource designed for youth in the foster care system. It is a short-form animated series built for those who have experienced childhood trauma.

 

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Youth and Art Contest | Directing Change  

The Directing Change Program offers art and film contests to engage youth ages 12 to 25 with mental health and suicide prevention. Youth can win prizes while making a difference. Submissions are accepted monthly. Visit the website for monthly prompts, entry details, and resources. 

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Wellness Education Lab

WEL guides students (13+) through evidence-based content offering practical skills to improve mental health and resilience.

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Mental Health Resources for Parents, Family and Friends

Worried about your child’s mental health?  Learn how to help.

Is your child or someone you love going through a tough time emotionally? Check out the following resources to better understand the warning signs, and offer the support they need.
Know the Signs: Prevent Suicide

Recognize the warning signs of suicide to better support those you love.

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Parents Guide to Teen Depression

Determine how to tell if your child is depressed, and what actions you can take.

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Seize the Awkward

Talking about mental health might be uncomfortable, but it can make all the difference.  Learn what to say.

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Stress Relief for Kids

You can help your child be healthier by managing your own stress response and helping your child do the same. CA Surgeon General’s Playbook: Stress Relief for Caregivers and Kids, now available in eight languages.

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CA Parent and Youth Help Line

Operating Hours: 8am – 8pm

A free, confidential call, text or livechat resource for parents and youth seeking emotional support.

Call 855-427-2736

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Sisters Mentally Mobilized

Trains Black women to become mental health community advocates and help reduce mental health stigma, anxiety, and isolation among Black women.

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Talking to Teens about Violence

This fact sheet offers guidance on talking with teens when violence happens. Use this resource to help check in with yourself, clarify your goals, access information and options, ask helpful questions, label emotions, provide introspection and validation, and monitor media and social media exposure.

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Coping After Mass Violence

This fact sheet offers information on coping after mass violence. Use this resource to help understand common reactions children and families may be experiencing after a mass violence event, as well as what they can do to take care of themselves.

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Parenting Rainbow Kids

Provides evidence-based resources and information to support parents of rainbow kids.

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Gender Spectrum Resources

Gender Spectrum hosts free online groups for parents, caregivers, and other family members and adults. These groups provide you with the opportunity to connect with others, share experiences, and feel the comfort of a supportive community.

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Exploring the outdoors and improving mental health

Spending time outside improves physical and mental well-being.

California State Parks offers the Junior Ranger Program for kids ages 7-12, the free 4th Grade Adventure Pass  and its State Library Park Pass Program, which offers free admission into hundreds of state parks!

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First 5 California Stronger Starts

In California, 1 in 3 kids are at risk of toxic stress. Learn how your support can stop toxic stress.

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Let’s Talk Cannabis

Talking with your child about cannabis use at a young age is one of the best ways that you can help to prevent early experimentation.

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Wellness Education Lab

WEL empowers parents and guardians with knowledge and tools to support youth and strengthen their own mental health.

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Mental Health Resources for Schools & Teachers

Find tools to help you recognize and support the mental health of your students.

A student’s ability to learn is affected by their mental and emotional well-being. These resources are designed to help schools and teachers support young people struggling with mental health issues. 

Healthy Minds, Thriving Kids

These resources can help you teach your students the mental health skills they need to be ready to learn.

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Care, Cope, Connect

Access a guide to support families of young students who may be feeling fear, anxiety or loss.

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Suicide Prevention: A Toolkit for High Schools

Having a conversation about mental health might be uncomfortable, but it can make all the difference.  Learn what to say.

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Center for Resiliency, Hope & Wellness in Schools

The Center partners with schools to increase access to evidence-based trauma and early intervention strategies to create nurturing school environments.

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GLSEN Educator Resources

GSLEN helps educators increase LGBTQ visibility and affirmation through educator guides and resources, as well as free lesson plans and connections to networks.

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LivingWorks: Suicide Intervention

In just 90 minutes online, LivingWorks teaches trainees to recognize when someone is thinking about suicide and how to help connect them to help and support.

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Greater Good Education Program

Provides educators with resources and methods to successfully implement social and emotional learning (SEL) programs in schools and classrooms.

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The Angst: A Film

A film-based mental health support program, endorsed by educators, psychiatrists and mental health advocates. Tools and information for parents and educators available on the website.

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Redirecting Grief to Growth | A Trusted Space

Listen to teachers, parents, students, and experts discuss how to mitigate the effects of anxiety and trauma. The film is accompanied by a curriculum that provides a practical and empathetic understanding of how trauma impacts behavior and learning, and how to manage it within any classroom setting.

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Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainings

Participate in an important training on how to best help young people experiencing both crisis and non-crisis mental health challenges and how to recognize warning signs of mental health concerns.

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Campus Opioid Safety Act

Effective January 1, 2023, the Campus Opioid Safety Act aims to provide education, information and federally-approved opioid overdose reversal medication to public colleges and universities. This communications toolkit for educators contains important information about stopping a drug overdose and the benefits of the life-saving medication Naloxone. 

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Suicide Prevention Resources for Youth | Directing Change

Directing Change offers suicide prevention resources for youth, educators, parents/caregivers and others. Find and share social media graphics, videos, infographics, youth-led activity tip sheets, and more.

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The Dialogue: Mass Violence, Community Violence, and Hate Crimes

An article which features a variety of experts with unique insight on the impacts of mass and community violence, intervention strategies, preparedness and planning, and steps communities can take to cope, enhance resilience, and recover.

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Wellness Education Lab

WEL equips educators/school staff with practical mental health training to support students and strengthen their own mental health.

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Safe Schools For All Hub

The Safe Schools For All Hub consolidates key resources and information so that educators and school staff can continue to support safe, in-person learning in K-12 schools and encourage student health. New resources will be added on a routine basis!

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Teachers and Staff School Wellbeing Toolkit

For teachers and school staff to practice self-care and support the wellbeing of their school community.

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