Skip to content Skip to navigation

Mental Health

BLACK LIVES MATTER.

CAPS stands in solidarity with Black students and the Black community, and against the state-sanctioned violence and systemic oppression that continues to perpetrate harm on the Black community.

CAPS is offering increased and expedited access to immediate counseling support via our Community Connects. Please call us to connect with a therapist. Additional resources for Black-centered support  are also listed here.

Check out Well-Being at Stanford to find out about events and options to support you

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Below is a list of potentially helpful online mental health resources. The CAPS clinicians have worked to pre-screen different online-based resources and phone apps that could benefit Stanford students. As always, students should use discretion in deciding which of these resources are helpful.

Self-help mental wellness websites:

  • Joyable
    • Joyable is an online-based treatment for social anxiety that utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy. In addition to learning skills to conquer social anxiety through the online platform, the program also utilizes personalized coaching through phone, text or email to support users' experience of the intervention and progress. 
  • MoodGYM
    • MoodGYM is a free, innovative, interactive web program designed to help people with depression and anxiety. It consists of five modules, an interactive game, anxiety and depression assessments, downloadable relaxation audio, a workbook and feedback assessment.
    • Using flash diagrams and online exercises, MoodGYM teaches the principles of cognitive behavior therapy—an evidence-based treatment for depression. It also demonstrates the relationship between thoughts and emotions, and works through dealing with stress and relationship break-ups, as well as teaching relaxation and meditation techniques.
  • Online Mental Health Screening
    • Free, anonymous screenings for depression, anxiety problems, eating disorders, and alcohol problems. This screening tool can help you decide if meeting with a therapist might be helpful
  • ULifeline 
    • An anonymous online resource for college mental health where you can find excellent self-assessment tools and fact sheets on mental health
  • Half of Us 
    • Sponsored by ULifeline, Half of Us has videos and blogs from celebrities about mental health issues
  • Each Mind Matters 
    • Each Mind Matters is California’s Mental Health Movement. We are a community of individuals and organizations dedicated to a shared vision of mental wellness and equality.
  • Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance 
    • Aims to improve the lives of people living with mood disorders
  • American Psychological Association 
    • ​Provides self-help brochures on mental health and psychological issues
    • The MARC center's site contains information about online mindfulness meditation classes and also free guided meditations.

Mindfulness Resources:

 

1) Windhover is a venue designed specifically to promote mindfulness/meditation, and they offer a beginning meditation sessions. The teacher for the session may have additional knowledge of resources for further continued classes or training.

https://windhover.stanford.edu/upcoming-events-windhover

2) Redwood City Insight Meditation Center teaches meditation and mindfulness. Gil Frondsdal, the Director, has a PhD from Stanford. While grounded in Buddhist philosophy, the center is open to all people. From the website: “IMC welcomes anyone and everyone who has an interest in the teachings and practices we offer. We aspire for our community to represent the wide range of diversity found in our society. IMC is intended to be a spiritual home for everyone who practices here.” The center has downloadable talks, so that you can listen and try out for yourself the style of teaching before deciding whether or not to visit the center. There are no fees for this center.

http://www.insightmeditationcenter.org/

3) Here is a link to a simple introduction to mindfulness by Dr. James Doty, a Stanford neurosurgeon who is also involved in the Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism Research Center:

http://bigthink.com/videos/james-doty-on-mindfulness-and-how-to-tame-your-mind

4) Compassion Cultivation Training is offered regularly at C-CARE and is based in, and provides, mindfulness training. There is a fee for the class.

http://ccare.stanford.edu/cct-details

5) There is a Zen student group on campus that meets weekly for meditation (for beginners and advanced practitioners)

http://bcas.stanford.edu/bcas_zen_sangha.html

6) Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction at Stanford – regular 8 week courses offered year-round. There is a fee for the class.

http://events.stanford.edu/events/504/50443/

7) The Fragrant Heart offers free online guided meditation exercises

https://www.fragrantheart.com/cms/free-audio-meditations#relax

8) The following book may be a helpful resource - Make Peace with Your Mind: How Mindfulness and Compassion Can Free You from Your Inner Critic

https://www.amazon.com/Make-Peace-Your-Mind-Mindfulness/dp/160868430X

Phone Apps for Mindfulness

Phone Apps for Mental Wellness

  • Mood 24/7
    • A free app developed at John Hopkins University that can be used to track your daily mood. Features include tracking through text message and sharing data with your doctors or other health care professionals. 
  • Headspace
    • A popular and engaging meditation app that allows users to learn the basic principles of meditation and guides you through meditation exercises.
  • Happify
    • A "science-based happiness" app that engages users through games and activities in learning how to overcome stress and worry and increase daily happiness.

 

*Please note that CAPS does not endorse or monitor information contained in the links above, and they are provided solely as an additional outside resource.