School-Based Mental Health Program
Browse a collection of mental health education resources created by Rady Children’s Health for school professionals to share with students and families. These resources provide guidance on emotional wellness, coping skills, crisis support and how to find help.
Crisis Resources
If your child expresses thoughts of wanting to harm themselves or others,
call 9-1-1 or visit the nearest emergency department.
To reach the Crisis Text Line, text HOME to 741-741 or visit crisistextline.org.
To reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, call 9-8-8 or visit 988lifeline.org.
Rady Children’s Health (formerly CHOC) partners with school communities to provide mental health education, resources and clinical programming. Whether education professionals are looking to enhance their school’s Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum or need mental health programming, Rady Children’s can bridge the gap between wellness and the classroom.
School Partnerships for Student Mental Health Support
The Rady Children’s School-Based Mental Health (SBMH) team collaborates with mental health teams at schools across the county to identify the needs of the school, establish partnership goals and plan for the sustainability of utilization of their WellSpace.
Through this partnership, the SBMH team facilitates engaging programming designed to demonstrate how schools can activate their broader communities to reduce mental health stigma and raise greater awareness of mental health issues.
Our support includes:
- Direct Services: The program provides direct clinical services for students and facilitates connections to mental health clinics and resources within Rady Children’s.
- Education: Workshops are available for parents and teachers, focusing on evidence-based behavioral management skills, effective communication strategies, and building a supportive environment at home and in the classroom.
- Student Engagement: Students can participate in skill-building workshops and wellness activities, including mindfulness and stress-management sessions and social-emotional learning activities.
- Strategic Planning: Partners establish shared goals and sustainability plans to ensure that the WellSpace remains an integrated part of the school culture for years to come.
- Implementation Support: Schools receive hands-on guidance for navigating the new WellSpace, including assistance with programming and creating a welcoming atmosphere.
By engaging the entire school ecosystem – students, staff and families – the initiative aims to create a community-wide culture of mental health awareness.
Return to School Program
Rady Children’s Return to School (RTS) Program helps students with school needs related to a medical or mental health challenge. Our team works with families, schools, and Rady Children’s care teams to help students get the support they need at school.
Mental Health RTS supports students during and after a mental health hospitalization or emergency department visit. Support may include school communication, re-entry planning, attendance or school avoidance concerns, and help understanding available school supports.
Medical RTS supports students with school needs related to a hospital stay, illness, injury, surgery, or other health condition. Support may include school forms, health needs, accommodations, and communication with the school.
Mental Health Crisis Clinic
The Mental Health Crisis Clinic at Rady Children’s Health is for youth who are suicidal or hurting themselves on purpose, but who are not at immediate risk of dying. This clinic can be an option for families who need urgent mental health support but whose child does not require emergency department care.
Appointments may be available as soon as the same week. Youth receive up to four sessions of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills, designed to help manage intense emotions during a crisis. Families are also supported in connecting to longer-term mental health care.
Community partners and families can call the Psychology Department at 714-650-8383 to schedule an appointment (phone line available during business hours).