This mental health toolkit is designed for parents, guardians, and other adults with a significant role in the lives of middle and high school students.

The purpose of this mental health toolkit is to equip parents with the knowledge and resources to support their teen’s mental health and wellbeing.

The first half of the toolkit provides an overview of the current mental health status of adolescents in the United States, guides you through responding to a crisis, and raises awareness of the most common mental health challenges faced by adolescents today. You will learn the signs that an adolescent may display when facing these challenges, and steps to help them effectively address concerning thoughts and/or behaviors.

The second half of this mental health toolkit focuses on mental health maintenance. You will learn about the factors that impact mental health and wellbeing, be guided through happiness exercises, and learn to distinguish between typical and atypical behavior changes during adolescence.

Throughout this toolkit you will be able to create your own list of mental health resources from reliable local, state, and national organizations.

Please note that this mental health toolkit only addresses some of the most common mental health challenges that impact middle and high school students. We can give you general recommendations, but for an action plan tailored to your teen’s needs, please connect with a licensed mental health provider.

Many of the recommended applications are useful for teens and adults alike. After all, modeling, or setting healthy examples, is one of the most important educational tools for parents raising resilient and emotionally intelligent teens.

We think there are a lot of great resources in this toolkit, but we also know that some families and teens may need specialized support. If you are a family that has immigrant status, there are additional specific resources outlined below.

Reasons for migration are varied and include moving away from persecution, human right abuses, disasters, war, reuniting with family, and seeking new opportunities. During the relocating process, you and your family may have experienced trauma, fear, and anxiety. Language and immigration status add additional barriers that can make finding mental health services in the U.S. difficult. However, there are services available in Los Angeles County that provide health care to everyone regardless of immigration status. Los Angeles County Department of Health Services has a list of specialized services for immigrant populations at Immigrant Services website and 211LA is another helpful tool for Immigration Resources (211LA). El Centro De Amistad offers free mental health support to uninsured or undocumented individuals between the ages of 0 and 64.

If you are parenting children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) we know that your family may require specialized support when it comes to mental health. In Los Angeles County, you are eligible for Regional Center services. The Regional Centers work with the California Department of Developmental Services to coordinate or provide community support, resources, and access to services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. There are 7 Regional Centers in Los Angeles County. The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health provides more information on their Regional Centers webpage.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines mental health as including our emotional, psychological, and social well-being². It affects our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Mental health impacts the way that we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. It is important to remember that poor mental health and mental illnesses are not the same thing: a person can experience poor mental health and not be diagnosed with a mental illness.

Mental health can affect various aspects of a teen’s life. Some examples include, academic performance, decision making, and overall health and wellness. Mental health problems have been associated with other behavioral risks like drug use, violence, and high-risk sexual behaviors³. If left untreated, or treated inappropriately, mental health problems can lead to big life consequences such as dropping out of school, unemployment, arrest, and early death⁴.

Adolescence is a time full of many changes in a child’s life: physiological changes, shifts in relationships between friends and family, and greater independence as they seek their “voice” and discern what they like and dislike as they ponder their adult life taking shape. Added pressures in high school - “Should I take the drama class or the AP Spanish course?” “Will I have time for the baseball team and time to hang out with my friends?” “Will my college application stand out to my dream university?” “Should I go to community college, trade tech, university, or begin to get work experience right after high school?” - make the transition from childhood to young adulthood more difficult.