Mountain View, CA
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The City of Mountain View strives to enhance existing initiatives and support behavioral health services more cohesively through improved coordination with community-based organizations, nonprofits, and intergovernmental partners. Please use the below information and table to find teen-specific service-providers and resources in our community.
"We’re all about making teenage life fun, friendly, and a bit more awesome. Remember, taking care of your health is the coolest thing you can do. Check out this page for useful information and tips!"
-Members of the Youth Advisory Committee: Ariana Motaghiannezam, Ryan Jhin, Shahana Rajasekaran, Sophia Lew, and Victoria Ma.
Need support now?
Dial 800-704-0900 and press 1 OR dial 9-8-8 for local 408, 650 and 669 area codes.
TRUST is a community service that helps Santa Clara County residents during an urgent mental health or substance use situation. TRUST’s team of responders have knowledge and experience assisting people struggling with behavioral health challenges. The field response team works together to meet the unique needs of each person and those around them and treats every situation on a case-by-case basis, providing responsive care without involving law enforcement. *Operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Why is teen mental health important?
Hey there! Let’s talk about mental health. It’s super important, especially during your teen years. With school, friends, and figuring out life, things can get pretty overwhelming. Your mental health is all about how you think, feel, and handle stress. It’s totally normal to have ups and downs, but it’s key to take care of your mental well-being.
What about physical health?
Physical health? Yep, it's a big deal too! Being a teen means your body is changing a lot. Taking care of your physical health helps you feel good, stay strong, and grow in the right ways. Plus, when your body feels good, your mind often does too!
Mental Health
- 🚫📱Don’t get stuck to the screen! Taking breaks from screens can refresh your mind.
- 💤 Prioritize sleep! Adequate sleep is crucial for emotional and mental well-being.
- 🌱 Connect with nature! Spending time outdoors can boost your mood and reduce stress.
- 📖 Engage in recreational reading! Reading can be a relaxing escape and can improve focus and empathy.
- 🎨 Express yourself creatively! Activities like painting or writing can be therapeutic.
- 🧘♀️ Practice mindfulness! Techniques like meditation can help calm your mind and reduce anxiety.
Physical Health
- 💧 Regular Hydration: Drink lots of water to keep your body happy and hydrated.
- 🏃♂️ Exercise Routine: Mixing up your workouts keeps it fun and effective.
- 😴 Sleep Early, Sleep Well: Good sleep equals a happy and healthy you.
- 🥦 Eat Balanced: Nutritious food fuels your body and brain.
- 🛑 Take Breaks: It's okay to pause and recharge.
- 🍅 Pomodoro Method: Balance work and relaxation to stay fresh and focused.
- 📚 Effective Note-Taking: Capture the essentials and make revisions a breeze.
- 🗓️ Time Management: Prioritize tasks and avoid last-minute stress.
- 💡 Active Learning: Engage with the material, don't just memorize!
Navigating New Experiences and Avoiding Burnout
Life's an adventure with lots of new experiences that can feel overwhelming! Take these tips to best handle them without burning out!
- 📅 Create a Daily Routine That Works for You: Helps you stay organized and less stressed.
- 🔕 Eliminate Distractions: Focused work = more free time later.
- 🛁 Relax: Whether it's a hot bath or a walk, relaxing clears your mind.
- 🧘♀️ Find Your Chill: Everyone needs a go-to chill activity.
“Journaling is your best friend! Writing down your thoughts can help you understand your feelings and needs.” — Kaelyn T.
“Eat food! Drink water! Sleep!” — Naisha J.
“I find that switching between subjects keeps my mind active and prevents boredom. If I’m studying math and start to feel overwhelmed, I’ll switch to history or a bit of creative writing. It's like giving my brain a little reset!” — Victoria M.
“Be present - fully engage in whatever you’re doing because you can never relax if you’re always worrying about something else.” — Katie B.
“Do things that you enjoy!” — Shahana R.
“To relax, I recommend doing things you enjoy and spending time with people you love! I like to plan days where I can go out and thrift, get myself lunch, and just have some alone time. Other days I like to hang out with friends and family, it's all about balance.” — Taylor L.
How to Help a Friend
With 50% of young people reporting that they have experienced symptoms of a mental health condition, you are likely to be friends with someone who is struggling. The good news is that there are many resources to assist you with supporting these friends!
NAMI’s How to Help a Friend provides information about warning signs, how to share your concerns and offer support, including a student guide poster with tips that you can print and post at your high school, in your college dorm or elsewhere.
Jed Foundation provides a guide to tell how to tell if a friend is struggling, including what signs to look for on social media.
Seize The Awkward highlights warning signs, stories of how concerned friends had a positive impact, conversation starters, follow up questions and actions you can take to continue supporting your friend.