Granada Hills Charter's School Social Workers, Ms. Wen and Ms. Vargas, would like to share some websites that may come in handy for our students and their families. These are tried and true resources, and they are continuously updated.
Adolescent Depression:The word depression is used to mean many different things. If asked, most people would saythat they have felt “depressed.” What most mean by this is that they have felt sad. Sadness is a universal feeling, and everyone will experience some intense periods of sadness with grief. Not everyone, however, will experience a clinical depression. Sadness or depression is just one symptom of a depressive illness.
Cope Care Deal: This website – a product of the Adolescent Mental Health Initiativethrough the Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands – offersinformation and resources for teens. Check out the Mind Zone! It getsyou the facts on mental health problems, eating disorders, and suicide.If you're well informed, you'll be better able to help your friends ifthey need it. (And if you're worried that you might have a mental healthproblem, you can find out.)
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: This website – The Balanced Mind Parent Network (BMPN), a program of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), guides families raising children with mood disorders to the answers, support, and stability they seek.
Free To Be He, She, They: Helping Young People Navigate Gender Identity: UCSF’s pioneering Child and Adolescent Gender Center is helping a growing number of families seeking advice – and, increasingly, medical intervention – to help a son or daughter’s physiology match their gender identity.
Military OneSource: Military OneSource is a free service provided by the Department of Defense to service members and their families to help with a broad range of concerns including money management, spouse employment and education, parenting and child care, relocation, deployment, reunion, and the particular concerns of families with special-needs members. They can also include more complex issues like relationships, stress, and grief. Services are available 24 hours a day — by telephone and online.
NAMI SVF-- National Alliance on Mental Illness, San Fernando Valley: When a parent or a child is first diagnosed with a mental illness, the whole family needs help. NAMI SFV provides educational programs and support groups for families at no cost.
National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. By dialing 988, the call is routed to the nearest crisis center in our national network of more than 150 crisis centers. The Lifeline's national network of local crisis centers provide crisis counseling and mental health referrals day and night.National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Our House Grief Support Center: If you have lost a loved one – whether a family member or a friend – Our House is there to help. This organization is dedicated to supporting people who grieve a loss, whether they be children, teens, or adults.
SAMHSA Treatment Referral Helpline, 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727): Get general information on mental health and locate treatment services in your area. Speak to a live person, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.
TEEN LINE: TEEN LINE is a confidential telephone help line for teenaged callers. It operates every evening from 6:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. and is toll-free from anywhere in California. When you call, you don't have to give your name and everything you say will be strictly confidential. The TEEN LINE volunteers who answer the call are Southern California teenagers who have been specially trained. They won't judge you or give you advice — their job is to listen to your feelings and help you to clarify your concerns, define the options available to you, and help you make positive decisions. No problem is too small, too large, or too shocking for the Text Crisis Line volunteers.
- Call 1-800-TLC-TEEN (1-800-852-8336)
- or in Los Angeles: 310-855-HOPE (310-855-4673)
- or in The Valley: 818-432-2266
The Center for Transyouth Health and Development: The Center for Transyouth Health and Development promotes healthy futures for transyouth by providing services, research, training and capacity building that is developmentally informed, affirmative, compassionate and holistic for gender non-conforming children and transyouth.
We Spark: Many families' lives are touched by cancer. We Spark provides free cancer support services for children, teenagers, and adults. Participate in art class, learn yoga or tai chi, join a discussion group, or go to a workshop – it's all designed to enhance the quality of life for cancer patients and their family members and friends.
For more information, contact our social workersor visit the wellness center.
