Back to School: Youth Mental Health Resources

As we gear up for the new school year, we understand the importance of mental health for students, parents, and educators. That’s why we are adding to our comprehensive youth mental health resource library this back to school season. Navigating the challenges of academics, social dynamics, and personal growth can be overwhelming but, together, we can build a resilient and thriving community. Our resources aim to support educators, guide parents, and empower students on their mental health journey during the school year and beyond.

Every person has different needs and capacities, so we have crafted various possibilities for you to look through and find what interests you to try. These suggestions are laid out so that you can find what you think will work best for you as a student or parent when supporting one’s mental health and wellness during the school break. The main priority is to ensure that you feel rested and ready for when school rolls back around.

We have advice to help kids begin the new school year on the right foot, especially those with mental health or learning challenges. 

Find timely, actionable resources to help students, parents and supportive adults, and educators prepare and prioritize youth mental health when returning to school. 

Since mental health conditions typically begin during childhood, adolescence or young adulthood, we have compiled essential information and resources intended to help young people get the mental health support they need.

On this page, you will find additional information intended to help provide young people, educators, parents, and caregivers with the resources they need. 

From a free downloadable coloring and activity book to a teen mental health education presentation, to a guide for navigating college with a mental health condition, this page has resources for all young people. 

This page also contains handy information for parents, caregivers, and educators, like a one-pager on how to start a conversation about mental health and an example week of wellness activities that can be used at home.

Adolescence and young adulthood are times of change, growth, and challenges. Whether you’re a teen trying to make sense of how you’re feeling, a young adult navigating the pressures of increased responsibility, a parent trying to find help for your child, or an educator aiming to bring mental health to the classroom, Mental Health America has information and resources to help you.

Mental Health America’s 2024 Supporting Young Minds Guides have been created to empower parents, caregivers, teachers, and others to provide support by fostering nonjudgmental environments where young people feel safe expressing themselves. In them, you will find information about facilitating conversations and validating feelings, creating safe spaces and supportive culture in the classroom, and ways to promote peer support. We’ve also created resources to help young people support one another and feel empowered to set and achieve goals.

The California Youth Crisis Line (CYCL) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week as the statewide emergency response system for youth (ages 12-24) and families in crisis. Professionally trained staff and volunteer counselors respond to 17,000 calls annually with crisis intervention counseling and resource referrals to service providers in the caller’s local community. We have access to more than 5,500 free or low-cost resources for youth and families across California.

The California Youth Crisis Line cares about the well-being of the youth we serve. During these mentally taxing times of adjusting to our current political, social, and economic climate, we want to share these various wellness resources.

Talking to children about mental health and illness can be an opportunity for parents and caregivers to provide their children with information, support, and guidance. Mental and substance use disorders in families can impact family dynamics. And for children who could benefit from treatment, it can still be hard for parents and caregivers to identify issues or find help and treatment.

Mental health resources for youth, families, friends, schools, and teachers.

Everyone faces challenges on the path to mental wellness. Finding the right support shouldn't be one of them. We're here to provide resources, connection, and understanding for young people, families, and caregivers.

List of mental health organizations and resources for youth.

List of mental health organizations and resources for youth.

Resources you may want to access if you are looking for assistance with housing, health and wellness, employment, and more.