Supporting Marin County Youth Suffering from Anxiety and Depression

Abstract

This toolkit was created to help shed light on the impact a stressful high school environment can have on today's youth, and provide teachers, students, and parents with up-to-date information on what resources are available within the county of Marin. When working with adolescents, it is important to consider environmental threats to their mental health (i.e., lack of sleep) in order to make proper referrals and treatment plans. A study done by Kelley, Lockley, Kelley, & Evans (2017) implemented a 10:00 a.m. start time at an urban school in England. By delaying school start times, Kelley et al., found that absences related to illness were reduced by 50 percent compared to national rates. In general, school systems in the United States are not currently structured to ensure students can function at their maximum potential, and their academics, health, and relationships are deteriorating as a result. More importantly, suicide is becoming more prevalent in high schools within the United States, which means prevention programs need to be reevaluated or implemented to help Marin youth cope with academic and social stress. This guide will provide the community with psychoeducation on depression and anxiety; potential risk factors, how to help, and what treatment options are available. iv Acknowledgement I cannot emphasize enough how incredibly fortunate I am to be surrounded by so many supportive friends, family, colleagues, and leaders. I would like to thank my thesis instructor, Carlos Molina, Ed.D., LMFT, for his unwavering flexibility and encouragement throughout my entire project. I am incredibly grateful for the profound lessons he has taught me as an instructor in the Counseling Psychology program. His tireless ability to advocate for his clients will forever inspire my work in this field. Mark Jaime (the Associate Director of Alumni Relations) and Jessica Jordan (the AVP for Alumni Engagement, Annual Fund, and Advancement Services) have been wonderful in helping me balance working full-time, taking classes part-time, completing this formidable final project, and interning at the National Alliance on Mental Illness Marin. For the generous way they have supported me through the times I have needed to adjust my work schedule, I am forever grateful. My mom, Shelley Grajeda, proofread this entire manual, and did so with awe-inspiring devotion and enthusiasm. She and my dad, Jeff Grajeda, have been the two utmost important influences in my life, and there will never be enough words to fully express my love and gratitude for the way they have supported me as a student, a professional, and as a person. Thank you to Kelli Finley (Executive Director of NAMI Marin) for imparting your invaluable wisdom on me, Ana Do Rosario Sousa and Trae Carpenter for being my companions throughout this ambitious adventure, and to Michael Pujals for sharing his expansive Microsoft Word expertise. Finally, to Nicolette Grajeda, Beverly Morris, Ken Morris, Bryan Grevera, and Barbara Grevera, I am blessed to have your kindness, humor, and s...