Mental Health Committee
The Mental Health Committee is focused on parents and children of our community by listing websites solely for educational and informational purposes.
Rabbi Marcus has provided us with suggestions and guidance. We hope your search will help broaden your scope of mental health issues and provide some tools to make a difference in your families. Our goal is to provide you with a wide range of information on a variety of issues. The Mental Health Committee is chaired by Marie Raftery. To contact us for information or questions, please email mentalhealthcom@teesd.org.
The following sites are separated by greatest interest to teens, young adults, parents and adults seeking general information about the growth and development of children, parenting and mental disorders followed by San Diego resources.
NOTE: The websites below and links contained within them are listed for your convenience only and Temple Emanu-El is not responsible for their contents. Temple Emanu-El’s Mental Health Committee has reviewed sites with care given to regional and national accreditation but Temple Emanu-El is not responsible for the content or your use of such content. Each site has multiple links for further exploration.
Recommendations
Young Adults
Emotional Health and Well Being Resources for Young Adults (Ages 14-21)
Information for General Mental Health Topics
General Mental Health
Bullying
Sexual Orientation and Identity
Substance Abuse
Medications for Mental Health
Center for Young Women’s Health and Young Men’s Health
The Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Boston’s Children’s Hospital provide guides on emotional health, including anxiety depression, bullying and eating disorders.
www.youngwomenshealth.org
www.youngmensheathsite.org
Teens Health
Specific links and resources by doctors and other experts specifically for teens, including issues about body, mind, mental health illness, sexual health, videos, questions and answers.
National Alliance on Mental Health
Resources for helping a friend, managing mental health in college, friendship and developing social skills and making friends.
https://nami.org/Your-Journey/Teens-Young-Adults
Active Minds
A nonprofit that empowers older teens including college students to speak openly about mental health. Active Minds aims to educate and encourage help-seeking.
Teens Against Bullying
A non-profit organization created by and for middle and high school students who want to be heard, address bullying and take action. This website also includes anti-bullying videos.
https://www.pacerteensagainstbullying.org
Stopbullying.gov
Provides resources for teens who are bullied and gives ideas to those teens who’d like to contribute to initiatives to help stop bullying in schools and communities. This resource is provided by the U.S. Government’s Department of Health and Human Services.
Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, GLSEN
The leading national organization focused on ensuring safe schools and supportive environment for all students regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression for all students.
Substance Abuse and Mental health Services Administration
This government website provides confidential and anonymous information on mental health services and treatment centers through a service locator for teens and adults.
Head Meds
This website gives young people focused information about the most common medicines prescribed for mental health conditions.
Apps
Meditation
Insight Timer includes a free app to support mediations, access to many meditations by a wealth of teachers.
Mindshift
Mindshift is a free mobile app for teens developed by Anxiety BC (Canada), with mindfulness and other coping skills for anxiety. Break free from anxiety and stress using this free evidence-based anxiety management app. based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
https://www.anxietycanada.com/resources/mindshift-cbt/
Mindfulness
Mindfulness for Teens includes a free app for teens to help handle stress with mindfulness with guided meditations for breathing and learning how to live in the present. This website provides information, tools, and resources.
San Diego Mental Health Resources
Evaluation, Emergencies,
Treatment and Support of Children, Teens and Young Adults
Emotional Health and Well Being Resources for Young Adults (Ages 14-21)
2-1-1 San Diego
http://211sandiego.org
Includes local available resources for community, health and disaster services. 2-1-1 San Diego also includes a 24/7 phone services for assistance navigating local resources. Under “Services” link to “Early Childhood Development” and “Mental Health Services.” For adults.
NAMI San Diego
https://namisandiego.org
Check out “Services” to for information on education, support groups and advocacy information through the San Diego organization. For adults and families.
Jewish Family Service
http://www.jfssd.org/site/PageServer
The San Diego chapter provides information about support and counseling options as well as support groups and “Positive Parenting Program” classes. For adults and families.
Elizabeth Hospice Children’s Bereavement Center
https://elizabethhospice.orgThe Elizabeth Hospice Children’s Bereavement Center in Escondido offers counseling and support groups for children. For information about the center’s support groups for children, email melissa.lunardini@ehospice.org or call (800) 797-2050
First 5 San Diego
http://first5sandiego.org
Includes resources to Healthy Development Services, including behavioral, development services, screening, assessment, and treatment of mild to moderate developmental delays and referrals to additional services for a child’s first 5 years. For adults.
OSCER
https://namisandiego.org/oscer/ (under “Services” go to):(Organized Support Companion in an Emergency Situation)
This is a FREE APP you can download to your smartphone or tablet which provides support information in an emergency situation including “before,” “during,” and “after” crises.” This app lists available local resources. OSCER includes a phone number for a Crisis Line that is available 24/7. For adults and young adults.
Live Well San Diego
http://sandiego.networkofcare.org/mh/index.aspx
This compendium provides lists of resources and support groups of care including “Behavioral Health Services” for mental health and/or substance use disorders in San Diego County. It also includes “Emergency Numbers,” as well as service resources for adults and youth. For adults.
Books to Spark Your Child’s Imagination
Resources for Reading Lists
At Temple Emanu-El’s Torah and Pre-School Open House, the Mental Health Subcommittee featured Rebecca Bellingham, a noted literacy consultant, teacher, actor and author. Rebecca spoke about the importance of reading aloud to children from infancy through the middle school years. Please visit Rebecca’s website as well as her TEDxYouth presentation.
http://www.rebeccabellingham.com
Why we should all be reading aloud to children
In preparation for Rebecca’s presentation, the Mental Health Subcommittee prepared a suggested book list for parents. Although these books, in general are in age groups, they can usually be read at any age. Always check the summary of a book for its age appropriateness.
Preschool
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
The Napping House by Audrey Wood
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
Buster the Little Garbage Truck by Marcia Berneger
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
Sticks by Diane Albur
The Purim Superhero by Elisabeth Kushner
Grades 4 – 5
In Our Mother’s House by Patricio Pollacco
Matilda by Ron Dahl
Stuart Little by EB White
The Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Are You There God It’s Me Margaret by Judy Blume
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
The Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
The Magic Treehouse Series by Mary Pope Osborne
Fly Away by Eve Bunting
Kindergarten – Grade 3
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Heather has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
Tough (The Weird Series) by Erin Frankel
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Pink Is For Boys by Rob Pearlman
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
Stones for Grandpa by Renee Londner
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendek
Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus
Just Ask by Judge Sonia Sotomayer
Grade 6 – 8
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L ’Engle
Wonder by RJ Palacio
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
The Devils Arithmetic by Jane Yolen
I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Smile by Raina Telegmeir
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body” Joseph Addison
Resources for Reading Lists
Disclaimer: These links and links contained within them are listed for your further exploration and convenience. Temple Emanu-El is not responsible for their information.
ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children)
http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberyhonors/newberymedal
This association lists excellent award-winning books for children from 1922 to the present. The Caldecott and Newbury Award are two of many awards given to children’s books.
Child Mind Institute Reading List
https://childmind.org/article/best-childrens-books-about-mental-health/
The Child Mind Institute is an independent, national nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. The Child Mind Institute has 44 books read and recommended by clinicians.
PJ Library
https://pjlibrary.org/home
“The PJ Library sends free, award-winning books that celebrate Jewish values and culture to families with children 6 months through 8 years old.” It’s free and easy for parents and grandparents to subscribe.
LGBTQ Friendly Books for Kids
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lgbtq-kids-books-pride-month_n_5b1023bce4b0fcd6a834bbdb
“We (the Huffington Post’s Mission Statement) believe diversity – in who we are, how we tell our stories, and among the people we write for – is critical to our mission. We aim to write for, and not just about, those left out of traditional power structures; to approach stories inclusively; and to serve a diverse audience with stories that matter to them.”
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