Resources

Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Resources for Parents in San Diego

Help is available! Find easy access to mental health and suicide prevention resources for parents in San Diego by using the links provided here. If you or someone you care about is experiencing a suicidal or mental health crisis, please call the Access and Crisis Line at (888) 724-7240. Trained and experienced counselors are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day to provide support, referrals, and crisis intervention. You can also call the Access and Crisis Line if you are concerned about someone, just need to talk, have questions about how to offer support, or if you are looking for information about community resources, mental health referrals, and alcohol and drug support services. If emergency medical care is needed, call 9-1-1 or go to the emergency room of the nearest hospital.

  • Rady Children’s Behavioral Health Urgent Care:
    Phone: (858) 966-5484
    Hours of Operation Walk-in clinic: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday  
    The Behavioral Health Urgent Care serves children, teens and their families struggling with urgent emotional and/or behavioral concerns in the Mid City Region including suicidal thoughts, psychotic thinking, physical aggression, co-occurring problem with substance use/abuse, depression, anxiety and acute stress reduction. Located at 4305 University Avenue, Suite 150 San Diego, CA 92105. 

  • National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health:
    This is a family-run organization with more than 120 chapters and state organizations representing the families of children and youth with mental health needs. It offers a wealth of resources and information for families.

  • Project ABC:
    This website provides resources and tip sheets for families, professionals and community organizations to promote the healthy emotional development of infants and young children.

  • Evidence Based Mental Health Treatment for Children and Adolescents:
    This website is a valuable resource for parents who want an effective treatment based on scientific findings. Developed by researchers and clinicians, the site reflects the most current research on the treatment of childhood disorders. In addition, the site enables parents to search for local therapists committed to the practice of science-based therapy.

  • The Balanced Mind Parent Network:
    Offers information, resources and the opportunity to connect with others.

  • American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry:
    Facts For Family Guide: This website offers resources and a wide range of “Facts for Families” in different languages.

  • Family Guide:
    The Building Blocks Family Guide contains ideas for fun activities and discussion starters for you and your children, as well as advice and guidance on topics, such as active listening, rule making and being a good role model.

  • First 5 California “Talk” Campaign:
    Encourages parents to talk, read and sing to their young children as a way to promote healthy brain growth, especially in the early years between 0 and 5 when 90% of a child’s brain develops. The First 5 California website provides free songs that parents can download.

  • StopBullying.gov:
    This resource provides information from various government agencies on what bullying is, what cyberbullying is, who is at risk, and how you can prevent and respond to bullying.

  • Kids Health:
    Is a website that shares information about health, behavior, and development from before birth through the teen years.

  • Play It Safe:
    Phone: (619) 723-0036
    In San Diego, Play It Safe offers a 2-hour training for children ages 5 to 11 years. Using role-play, children gain confidence, learn to set boundaries and to appropriately respond and take action when faced with bullying, teasing and mean behaviors. Classes are taught individually or through community and school-based programs such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, after-school programs and the YMCA.

  • Boys Town:
    Offers a vast library of parenting information and articles developed over many decades by our child behavior experts. The site features parenting guides, articles, videos, tools and quick tips on a variety of subjects.