As a young person, stress from school, friendships, family, social media, or big life changes can affect how you feel, think, and handle things day to day. This page is here to support young people wherever they’re at, whether feeling stressed, overwhelmed, curious about mental health, or just needing someone to talk to. Along with access to immediate care through crisis support and urgent care providers, here you’ll find simple ways to care for your mental health and trusted places you can go for real support, based on what you need and what feels right to you.
Helpline (951) 686-HELP
Supporting Youth Mental Health
Everyone has mental health. It’s how we feel, think, and deal with life—and it changes from day to day. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, sad, stressed, confused, or just not yourself, this page is for you.
You don’t need a diagnosis or a big reason to care for your mental health. Feeling “off” is reason enough. Here, you’ll find simple ideas to help you feel better, tools to get through tough times, and places you can go for real support.
What Mental Health Really Means
Mental health is your emotional wellbeing. It’s how you handle stress, connect with friends and family, and make choices. Some days are harder than others. That’s normal. But you deserve to feel safe, supported, and heard.
Signs It Might Be Time to Talk or Get Support
- You feel down, anxious, or angry a lot
- You’re having trouble sleeping, eating, or focusing
- You feel alone or misunderstood
- You’re using things like vaping or alcohol to deal with stress
- You’ve thought about hurting yourself
- You just want someone to talk to
You Are Not Alone
There’s no shame in needing help. Everyone needs support sometimes. Whatever you’re going through, you don’t have to carry it by yourself. Talking to someone like a trusted adult, a friend, a teacher, or a counselor can help lighten the weight. Even if you’re not sure what you need, starting a conversation is a powerful first step.
How To Care for Your Mental Health
Take 10 minutes away from your phone. Just chill, nap, or listen to music.
Try this: Name 5 things you see, 4 you hear, 3 you can touch, 2 you can smell, 1 you can taste.
Step outside for a minute—fresh air helps.
Eat something. Even a snack counts.
Dance, stretch, walk your pet, ride your bike—whatever gets you moving.
Rest when you need to. That includes naps.
Text a friend just to catch up or spend time with family.
Make something: a playlist, drawing, video, recipe, whatever speaks to you.
Write down or talk out your feelings.