Stanford Center for
Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing
What is The Stanford Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing?
The Stanford Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing recognizes that we are in the midst of a national public health crisis among US youth and is committed to spearheading a new national vision for adolescent and young adult wellness and mental health support. The clinical and research experts within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences have laid the groundwork for the creation of a national initiative for youth through their expertise in early mental health support, development of self-regulation tools, school mental health, and suicide prevention. By creating an innovative health system, and a new culture of health for the adolescent and young adult population, Stanford hopes to create a model for the country in how to better support our young people to navigate the transition to adulthood and realize their full potential as adults.
The Need
The data on adolescent health and educational success in the US is of great concern. High rates of depression, alcohol and drug abuse, teen pregnancy, youth violence, and low college graduation rates compared to other industrialized nations indicate that something is missing in our support for young people. Adolescence has become a perilous rite of passage for many youth. We need a new culture of adolescent wellbeing across the United States that builds skills, resilience, and opportunities for a healthy path into adulthood.
Some key facts:
- We know that US teens are more stressed than ever before. In a 2013 survey, teens reported higher stress levels than adults and many also reported feeling overwhelmed, depressed or sad as a result of stress (Bethune, 2014).
- Fifty percent of mental health disorders have their onset by the age of 14 and seventy five percent emerge before the age of 25 (Kessler et al, 2005).
- The adolescent brain is especially malleable to both positive and negative influences and the period from 12-25 is the last critical opportunity to affect the healthy development of our young people (Steinberg, 2014).
Core Components
The Stanford Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing is built on 3 core components:
Recent Events
This panel event was held September 21, 2015 at Palo Alto High School. Due to recording capacity, only the first hour of the two hour panel was recorded. The event was moderated by Shashank Joshi, MD Lucile Packard/Stanford Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist.
Panelists included: Holly Pedersen, MFT, PhD, Parent Educator/Marriage & Family Therapist · Kara Fitzpatrick, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, Lucile Packard/Stanford · Denise Herrmann, EdD, Principal, Henry M. Gunn High School · Kimberly Diorio, MS, Principal, Palo Alto High School · Juan Santos, Gunn High School Junior · Anmol Nagar, Palo Alto High School ASB Vice President · Natalie Maloney, Palo Alto High School Junior Class Vice President.
Contact Us
Vicki Harrison, MSW
Manager, Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing
Manager of Community Partnerships, Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
650-725-3772
vickih@stanford.edu
Steven Adelsheim, MD
Director, Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing
Director of Community Partnerships, Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
650-725-3757
sadelsheim@stanford.edu