The Youth Action Team and Marin 9 to 25
The Marin County Suicide Prevention Collaborative partners with Marin 9 to 25 and Marin County Youth Commission in fostering the Youth Action Team's engagement in County-wide youth mental health and well-being, suicide prevention and substance use awareness activities. Youth partnerships with the Marin County Office of Education, the Marin Schools Wellness Collaborative, OD Free Marin, and other Community-Based Organizations in Marin are critical for their success. This Team is designed for youth ages 13-25 years old. Check out their amazing work!
If you would like to join the Youth Action Team, please contact the BHRS Prevention and Outreach Team.
Find Your Way Campaign and Resource Guide: Fostering Youth Wellness
The purpose of the Find Your Way campaign is to promote help seeking and connection to local youth resources to support well-being. This campaign, along with the Resource Guide, is designed by youth for youth and promotes messages that are accessible and relatable. In May 2023, youth action team members presented to the Board of Supervisors who passed a Proclamation declaring May as Mental Health Awareness Month. Learn more about the youth and their activities here.
Youth Wellness Festival and the Art and Film Showcase
Since 2020, the Youth Action Team have been promoting messages of mental health and suicide prevention awareness through art and film events, including:
- 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
- And the September Suicide Prevention and Recovery Month 2021 Youth Art and Film Showcase
Planning is underway for 2024 Youth Art and Film Showcase and the Festival!
Caring Cards Project: Creating Hope and Belonging
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. Read more here!
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 Campaign
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 ran 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 inform the ongoing marketing of this vital intervention resource for all of Marin.
Directing Change: A State-Wide Film Contest for Suicide Prevention
Several students have received state-wide acknowledgement for their suicide prevention and mental wellbeing films.
In 2023-24 school year, four students from Novato High School and Terra Linda High School were awarded for written works, including: “Enough," “Faded Ink, “Handful," and “Eye of the Storm." Congratulations!
During the 2022-23 school year, a total of 18 young people from Terra Linda High School submitted 5 films about mental health and suicide prevention.
