NAMI SMC offers support for youth with a mental health diagnosis and for their families.
NAMI: For Parents of Youth & Young Adults
For family members with children ages 6-26 who have received a diagnosis;
NAMI Uplift Teen Group
For teens ages 11-18; meets once a week for 6 weeks. To register for the next session: https://forms.gle/uyjVD1oH8SmjpkHp9 or email olivia@namisanmateo.org.
Other Support Groups and Local Services
Parent Chat. For parent/caregivers of kids aged 14-24 with mental health challenges. 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 7-8:30pm. Orchard Room, Los Altos Library, 13 San Antonio Road. Info: Trudy Palmer 650 208 9116 or Donna Soo 650 823 0997.
SafeSpace. Provides support and clinical assessment to help you overcome struggles you may be having in your personal life at home or school. Walk In or appointment. 708 Oak Grove Ave, Menlo Park. Clinical Services: 1162 & 1166 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. safespace.org (650) 714-4417 infor@safespace.org
StarVista. Counseling, case management, skill development, and crisis prevention for children, youth, adults and families. Crisis Hotline (650) 579-0350 or dial 988. Differential Response Resource Line (650) 489-2097 is a number any individual, family, or provider can call to request information about services available in San Mateo County.
ASPIRE El Camino Hospital. After School Program Interventions and Resiliency Education (ASPIRE) helps children, teens and young adults with anxiety, depression or other symptoms related to a mental health condition. Middle school, High school and transitional program. (866) 789-6089 www.elcaminohospital.org/services/mental-health/specialty-programs/aspire.
Sutter Health Mills Peninsula Teenage Mental Health Services Teenage mental health services for ages 13-18 Psychiatric emergency services, intensive outpatient therapy. (650) 696-4666 for appointment. (650) 696-5915 for psychiatric emergency services. www.mills-peninsula.org/behavioral-health/teenagers/
The Gronowski Center A psychology training clinic dedicated to providing compassionate counseling and psychotherapy services to adults, older adults, couples, adolescents, children and families in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Sliding scale. Servcies are provided by doctoral level psychology students under the supervision of licensed psychologists. (650) 961-9300 www.paloaltou.edu/gronowski-center
Adolescent Counseling Services Supports the wellbeing of all teens, tweens, and young adults in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. ACS’ network of skilled family therapists and professionally-led suppport groups are resources that youth and their families can rely on time and again for help with life’s challenges, big or small! (650) 424-0852 info@acs-teens.org
Children’s Health Council Offers evaluations, programs and treatment for ADHD, Learning Differences, Anxiety & Depression and Autism and servces families on the Peninsula and South Bay as well as the greater San Francisico Bay Area through our clinical services, schools and community education and outreach programs. (650) 688-3624 www.chconline.org
Family and Children Service of Silicon Valley Services for Children, Teens and their Families. Individual and family counseling services (sliding fee scale and private pay). Medi-Cal mental health services. Mental Health services for children who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing and their families. School based counseling and family support services. (650) 326-6576 www.fcservices.org/
Stanford Center for Youth Mental Health Early Mental Health Support and Clinical Care for more serious conditions. Education (parent ed and outreach) and community partnerships, technology program. (650) 723-7704 med.stanford.edu/psychiatry/special-initiatives/youthwellbeing.html
YMCA Youth Services Bureau Offers clinical counseling services in three clinics in San Mateo County on a sliding fee scale and free to Medi-Cal and Victims of Crime (VOC). Works with 50 schools providing on site counseling and assessment; crisis interventions, on-campus violence prevention and adolescent life skills/support groups. (650) 349-7969 www.ymcasf.org/programs/youth-service-bureaus-urban-services
Other Resources
http://www.bestcolleges.com/resources/suicide-prevention/
https://www.teenrehabcenter.org/
https://homework.study.com/resources/depression-anxiety-in-college-students.html#0637
NAMI SMC’s Uplift Teen Group
Uplift Teen Group is an interactive, 6 week support program designed for teens who might be feeling overwhelmed, stressed, burned out, or are simply looking for some emotional support. Led by two young adult peer facilitators, the program focuses on building emotional resilience and managing negative thoughts. Through interactive sessions, teens will explore how to reframe unhelpful beliefs and gain practical tools to reduce low moods and anxious feelings.
Each week, participants will connect with peers facing similar challenges, fostering a supportive and understanding environment. The program includes six 1-hour sessions, along with home tasks to help teens practice and strengthen their coping skills in everyday life.
Next Cohort for 9th-12th Graders:
Starting: Saturday, June 6th, 11 am to 12 pm
Frequency: Every Saturday
Who: All CA residents
Where: Virtual on Zoom
Next Cohort for 6th-8th Graders:
Starting: Saturday, July 25th, 11 am to 12 pm
Frequency: Every Saturday
Who: All CA residents
Where: Virtual on Zoom
How do I Sign Up:
If you or someone you know is interested please fill out this form:
Interest Form
Questions? Contact our Youth Outreach Associate: ymorales@namisanmateo.org.
NAMI SMC’s 20s Social Group!
Welcome to NAMI SMC’s The Connections Collective. The Connections Collective is a supportive and inclusive space specially crafted for individuals navigating the unique challenges of their twenties. We understand that reaching out, making connections, and forming friendships can be daunting, especially when faced with the complexities of mental health conditions.
In this welcoming community, we recognize the struggles that some may face, whether it’s battling anxiety, depression, or simply feeling overwhelmed by the demands of life. The Connections Collective aims to be a lifeline for those who find it challenging to put themselves out there, offering a safe space for individuals seeking genuine connections and understanding peers.
The Connections Collective has monthly meet ups where we do fun activities together such as bowling, escape rooms, game nights, mini golf, cooking classes, and many more. The group is made to connect with other people in their 20s, have fun and provide a supportive environment for people to feel comfortable talking about what they’re going through. We aim to foster a sense of belonging, support and connection.
We hope you join us in building this community together!
Stay up-to-date with the events: 20s Social Group
Questions? Contact nami@namisanmateo.org
NAMI SMC’s youth mental health presentation: Ending the Silence
NAMI’s ‘Ending the Silence’ presentation educates middle and high school students about what mental health is, the warning signs of mental health conditions, and the appropriate steps to take when someone is displaying symptoms.
The presentation features:
- A young adult with personal experience living with a mental health condition who shares their recovery journey
- An adult who shares a slide show presentation with videos to raise awareness about mental health conditions, support resources, ways to get help, and ways to help others
The interactive format encourages students to ask questions, fostering understanding of this often-misunderstood topic and contributing to the movement to end the silence.
Interested in having a presentation at your school? Fill out this interest form.
Interested in becoming a speaker for the presentation? Sign up here.
Questions? Contact our Ending the Silence Coordinator: sholmes@namisanmateo.org.
Why should I bring NAMI Ending the Silence to my community?
It’s Time We Talk About It | A 10-Minute Documentary on the Importance of Mental Health Education. Put together by The Community Photobooth
- 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health condition each year.
- 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
- Stigma is the biggest reason 50% of youth ages 8-15 with a mental health condition don’t receive treatment.
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10-14.
- The average delay between onset of symptoms and receiving treatment is 11 years.
- Treatment works! With early identification and intervention there is hope.
What should I know?
- Engaging, 1 hour presentation designed for middle and high school age youth.
- Teens will learn early warning signs and what steps they can take to help themselves or a friend.
- Through talking about mental health and suicide openly we can begin to break the barriers of stigma.
- Free of cost to schools, youth and communities.
- Presented by a youth adult who experienced a mental health condition during their school years as well as a family member of an individual who experienced mental health challenges in school.
NAMI SMC’s FLARE Program
NAMI’s FLARE Program is a new mental health literacy curriculum designed for middle school classrooms. FLARE (Flexible Learning for Adolescent Resiliency Education) contains 23 fully developed lessons. Each lesson includes clear learning objectives, supplemental materials and activities, and facilitation notes.
Mental health literacy includes learning how to promote and maintain positive mental health, understanding common mental health conditions and available treatments, knowing how to seek help effectively, and recognizing mental health stigma and ways to reduce it. It is especially valuable for young people, helping them recognize when they may need support and understand how to access it.
Mental health education programs, such as FLARE by NAMI, empower individuals and communities to take a proactive approach to mental wellness. By supporting mental health curricula in our schools, we can help ensure that children have the knowledge and confidence to seek help when they need it and support others who may be struggling.
Questions? Please contact Education and Volunteer Director, Rocio Panameno: rocio@namisanmateo.org
NAMI SMC’s Me in Mind Program
NAMI’s Me in Mind activities are designed to be flexible and easy to incorporate into classrooms and youth programs.Through engaging, age-appropriate activities, students learn to recognize, understand, and manage their emotions while building healthy coping skills. These activities help counselors, teachers, mentors, and program leaders create meaningful connections with young people by encouraging open conversations, strengthening resilience, fostering empathy and self-awareness, and supporting positive mental health for children and youth.
Students in Grades K–2 explore how to name and express their emotions through the Discover activities, Grades 3–5 learn to navigate their feelings with the Understand bundle, and Grades 6–8 build emotional awareness through the Empower resources. The activities can be used in a calming or “cool-down” space, during morning meetings, or as part of other social-emotional learning opportunities. Whether you choose to use one or two activities or implement them throughout the school year, Me in Mind can be adapted to fit your students’ needs and your schedule.
Questions? Please contact Education and Volunteer Director, Rocio Panameno: rocio@namisanmateo.org