Youth Action Team
The Youth Action Team is engaged in carrying out mental health, suicide prevention and substance use awareness and education campaigns in partnership with Marin 9 to 25, Marin County Office of Education, the Marin Schools Wellness Collaborative, OD Free Marin, and other Community-Based Organizations in Marin. This Team is designed for youth ages 13-25 years old. Check out their amazing work!
Examples of this Team's efforts include:
- May Mental Health Month 2023 Youth Art and Film Showcase and the Youth Wellness Festival
- May Mental Health Month 2022 Youth Art and Film Showcase
- May Mental Heath Month 2021 Youth Art and Film Showcase
- September Suicide Prevention and Recovery Month 2021 Youth Art and Film Showcase
- Crisis Text Line (text MARIN to 741741) pilot program across the school district
- Caring Cards Project: Student cards reflect heartfelt messages of hope, recovery, and support to those who have been hospitalized or have been struggling with mental health, suicidality, and/or substance use issues. Read more here about one of the Youth Action Team's leadership in the Caring Cards Project!
- Directing Change. Several students have received state-wide acknowledgement for their suicide prevention and mental wellbeing films. During the 2022-23 school year, a total of 18 young people from Terra Linda High school in Marin County submitted 5 films about mental health and suicide prevention, and because of participating in the program were prepared to recognize and respond to signs of distress in themselves and their peers. View the 2023 third place awardees: https://vimeo.com/803772428 and https://vimeo.com/803728799
- Student Wellness High School Series
If you would like to join the Youth Action Team, please contact the BHRS Prevention and Outreach Team.
Caring Cards
The Caring Cards Initiative provides handwritten messages of hope for patients and clients who are recovering from mental health, suicidality, substance use or other behavioral health issues. Youth participate in a sensitivity training to express their support. All cards reflect artwork from the May and September art/film showcase and include resources for help.
Partner sites include Kaiser, MarinHealth, NAMI-Marin, Side By Side, Veteran's Services, Centerpoint, North Marin Community Services, Project Roomkey, and Buckelew Programs.
Crisis Text Line
The Crisis Text Line was launched in Spring 2021. As part of a strategy to introduce CTL to the Marin Community, the Youth Action Team created a pilot program and survey to determine youth perception and awareness of the CTL. The pilot is currently running in 6 high schools, one university and one middle school through January 2022. All schools in the County currently have access to the Crisis Text Line Toolkit, consisting of presentations, social media and posters/cards. Survey data collected before and after the pilot will inform ongoing marketing of this vital intervention resource for all of Marin.