Mental Health Resources

General Information

San Diego Unified Mental Health Awareness Month

Join us to educate, support, and end the stigma: SDUSD Mental Health Awareness Month Website

Crisis Text Line: Anxious about coronavirus?

Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor from anywhere in the USA. https://www.crisistextline.org/

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Disaster Distress Helpline

If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others. Available 24/7 | Text TalkWithUs to 66746 | Or call 1-800-985-5990

(TTY 1-800-846-8517)

People with deafness or hearing loss can use their preferred relay service to call 1-800-985-5990.

The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ young people under 25.Support available by phone, text or chat 24/7.

Text START to 678678 | Or call TrevorLifeline: 1-866-488-7386


Information for Families

Talking to Children about COVID-19

The National Association of School Psychologists and the National Association of School Nurses has created information to help communicate with your child about COVID-19. It is important that children and youth have a way to discuss and process their feelings and reactions by having a trusted adult to process current events with them.

Per this article, it is very important to remember that children look to adults for guidance on how to react to stressful events. Parents can play an important role to reassure children that health and school officials are working hard to ensure that people throughout the county stay healthy. Below are some suggested guidelines to support your child:

  • Remain calm and reassuring

  • Monitor television viewing and social media

  • Be honest and accurate

  • Keep explanations age appropriate

  • Review and model basic hygiene and healthy lifestyle practices for protection

For more information and to read the full article, please click here.

The Child Mind Institute has also provide families with guidance on conversations that could enhance communication between children and families and provide reassurance to children at this time. These recommendations include:

  • Taking cues from your child to invite conversations

  • Be reassuring

  • Focusing on what you are doing to stay safe

  • Maintain a daily routine as much as possible

  • Encourage open lines of communication

To read recommendations from the Child Mind Institute, please click here.

The National Traumatic Stress Network has provided information and recommendations about preparedness to reduce stress and help calm anxieties, providing information to help your family cope with these changes including:

  • Daily schedule recommendations

  • Reaching out to friends and family

  • Focusing on what you can accomplish

  • Giving yourself small breaks

To read this complete article, please click here: English, Spanish & Chinese

This organization also has posted simple activities you can do with your child at home. You can read about them by clicking here.

The Committee for Children has developed Social Emotional resources for children and families. Among those resources is Mind Yeti®. A mindfulness program that offers sessions for anyone to use with no experience necessary! Designed for educators and families to do alongside children, or for older children to do on their own, Mind Yeti provides a great way for everyone to practice mindfulness during this difficult time.

Curious Kids Podcast is a kid-driven podcast about fun and educational topics, check out this timely episode about how humans and other animals stay clean, Curious About Cleanliness. In this episode, the crew learns about soap, hand sanitizer, shampoo and more. Cleanliness is key in preventing many contagious diseases, including Covid 19. Children asking questions about Coronavirus to disease pediatrician Dr. Juan Dumois, Asking Kid’s Coronavirus questions.

Physical Activity is Important to maintain children’s brains healthy and learning. The resources below can provide you with ideas to keep moving while at home.

Information for Youth

The Young Adult and Family Center (YAFC) at the University of San Francisco is dedicated to innovation in the creation of mental health services, clinical research, health education, outreach, and public policy advocacy for the benefit of adolescents and young adults ages 12-24, and their families. Their mission is to provide adolescents and young adults with the highest levels of mental health care, so they can become their most authentic selves, with a love of life and a deep connection to others and the world around them. GritX™ is an interactive website that allows adolescents to discover, explore and get support.

Check out the website here: Gritx.org

DISCOVER: Self-Care Toolkit, Catch Your Breath, Skills Studio, Self-Interview

EXPLORE: Sketchbook, Journal, Grit Xpeditions, Grit Stories

The American Psychological Association has developed resources to help individuals develop personalized strategies to enhance resilience. Check out resources here.


SoulPancake YouTube channel provides a copilation of videos and playlist. As noted on their chanel description: “ their content joyfully explores and celebrates the many ways in which we seek human connection. They believe all questions are worth asking, and all human lives are worth exploring. Simply put, they create stuff that matters-because you matter.” Playlist to Feel all the Feels check it out here.

You can also check out our San Diego Unified Mental Health Awareness website for more information, helpful resources and various resources. Please visit our webpage here.

The Teen Life Coach Podcast offers topics on Mental Health, Self-Discovery & Goals. Check out podcast here.

Wellness Resources for Staff

We are thinking of you and your wellness matters. Below are resources you may find helpful as we navigate together recent changes and the increased need to take care of ourselves and practice wellness. We wish you wellness and hope you find the resources below helpful as you embark, continue or nurture your wellness journey.