California Health and Human Services

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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 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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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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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’re not sure you’re trans.

Call 877-565-8860

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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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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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Connections Matter Academy

Connections Matter Academy 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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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.  And save the life of someone 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

Provides tools for parents and caregivers to recognize and manage kid’s stress.

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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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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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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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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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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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