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"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul And sings the tune without words And never stops at all." - Emily Dickinson
 
 
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PSN Community Collaborative e-News Partners Summer Edition

June 21, 2016

Executive Director's Note

Dear PSN Partners,
 
I hope you are having a lovely summer as it is one my favorite times of the year. It's a good time for the PSN team to reflect, plan and ramp-up for the upcoming year. 

The last several months have been very busy time for PSN that includes many "firsts" such as the launch of our PSN Community Survey, which ends on June 24th. As of last week, nearly 900 Palo Altans completed the survey. A BIG thank you to our PSN Community Survey Workgroup (2015-16 Palo Alto Council of PTAs President Susan Usman-Workgroup Chair, PAMF Becky Beacom, PAUSD Chris Kolar, Santa Clara County Mental Health Lan Nguyen, and PTA Health & Wellness Sumita Vasudeva) for their leadership on this project.  I also want to thank our PSN interns, partners, and community members who promoted the survey to their networks. In addition to sharing the information collected with partners involved with the Epi-Aid process, PSN will share highlights at a future collaborative meeting and use the findings to help shape its program activities.
 
We kicked-off our first social media campaign “31 Stories in 31 Days: Stories of Hope, Resiliency, and Mental Health Advocacy” during Mental Health Matters Month in May on Twitter and Facebook.  Many Facebook posts reached over 1000+ people.  The campaign also included a soft launch of our first Community e-News for Families and Youth e-News.

PSN had an informational table at The Buoyancy Festival for teens at Mitchell Park. Thank you to Palo Alto University’s June Klein, Susan Usman, and our youth interns (Maggie Yan and Hua Zheng) for volunteering at our table and promoting the survey.
 
At our last PSN meeting, we heard from teen program specialist Jose Perez and youth grantees' from the Bryant Street Garage Fund's teen program; and Vic Ojakian's on his suicide prevention policy work. We hope you will be inspired to take one advocacy action or learn more about the Bryant Street Garage Fund.  We look forward to showcasing the important work of more youths and partners in the community.  We’re setting up the calendar for July 2016 – June 2017, please contact us at PSNPaloAlto@gmail.com to schedule or recommend a presentation at a future Community Collaborative meetings.
 
I hope to see many of you tomorrow (June 22nd) at PSN's Community meeting. In honor of June Pride Month and in light of the Orlando tragedy, it is timely that we feature Adolescent Counseling Services’ Outlet Program. For nearly two decades, Outlet dedicated itself to the well-being of LGBTQQ+ youth by providing a safe space for support and empowerment. We will also hear from the Children's Health Council who will talk about their Anxious and Depressed Teens Initiative and strategic plans.

Please enjoy our latest e-News featuring a Girl Scout's project as one of our Youth-in-Action stories and a personal post from PSN partner Jessica Feinberg on dealing with her mental health in our "Voices from the Village" section.
  
I hope everyone has a great summer and look forward to seeing you at our next PSN meeting in August.  I end this note with a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt: "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without words and never stops at all."  This quote best epitomizes the culmination of our partners’ collective work, which is to inspire hope to our Palo Alto youth and broader community.
 
Thank for being part of PSN and for your dedication to youth well-being.
 
Warmest regards,


Mary Gloner, Executive Director, Project Safety Net
In this Issue
PSN Community 
Collaborative Mtg.
Wed, June 22nd
4-6pm
Please RSVP.
- Youth-in-Action: Learn about Outlet LGBQQ+ youth support programs. 
- Partner-in-Action: Hear from the Children's Health Council on their teen mental health initiative.
- Get the latest updates from community partners and PSN.
 
SAVE THE DATE!
PSN Community 
Collaborative Mtg.
Wed, August 24th
4-6pm
Rinconada Library
No meeting in July.
Take the PSN Community Survey!  
 
It's not too late to take or share the PSN Community Survey! If you live, work or currently a student in Palo Alto (age 13 or older), please participate in our PSN Community Survey at http://bit.ly/psn2016paloalto. Last day to complete the survey is June 24th. The survey is available in English, Spanish and Chinese (Mandarin). Your collective voice matters in future efforts to improve youth well-being and suicide prevention in Palo Alto. Your anonymous responses will be collected and shared with the final Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Epi-Aid report due later this year. Please share this opportunity with others in your community and networks. Youth suicide can be a sensitive and difficult topic to discuss. If you find yourself struggling emotionally with this topic, please CALL 1-855-278-4204, Santa Clara County Suicide and Crisis hotline.
Epi-Aid in Palo Alto Update
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) have completed the field portion of the Epi-Aid investigation of youth suicide in Santa Clara County, which took place February 16-29, 2016.  The team who is conducting the Epi-Aid investigation will prepare a brief preliminary report and then a comprehensive report including final findings and recommendations. The CDC/SAMHSA team will take the lead in preparing the reports, with SCCPHD providing feedback, comments, and suggestions (based on discussions with community stakeholders) along the way. Santa Clara County Public Health Department will work with community stakeholders to review the recommendations and assist with potential policies and programs to address the findings. SCCPHD expects that the preliminary report will be released mid-summer and the final report at the end of the year; however, these dates are subject to change.
PSN Partners' Corner 
If you'd like to share a new activity, event, relevant research article, etc., please send it to PSNPaloAlto@gmail.com
Partner News:
Santa Clara County Commits $600K to Youth Mental Health Center 
Congratulations Dr. Steve Adelsheim on receiving funds to to start Head Space which provides early-intervention services — from physical and mental health to alcohol and other drugs, work and academic issues — to 12- to 25-year-olds at either a low cost or for free.

Upcoming Partner Events:
Breaking Down Stigma, Building Support for Youth Mental Health: 2016 Adolescent Mental Wellness Conference
Sponsored by Stanford Children's Health /Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and Stanford Medicine's Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
Fri and Sat, August 5 - 6, 2016  (Registration is open)
South San Francisco Conference Center
The conference keynote speaker is Darrell Steinberg, Former CA Senate Pro Tempore & Director of Policy and Advocacy, UC Davis Behavioral Health Center of Excellence. The conference brings policymakers, educators, clinicians, family members and youth together to explore approaches for supporting the mental health needs of children, adolescents and young adults.

Recommended by Partners:

For more partner activities, events and research,
please visit our website.
PSN Partner-in-Action
 
Learn about Vic Ojakian's Suicide Prevention Policy Work
At our last PSN community meeting in May, we had the wonderful opportunity to learn more about Vic Ojakian's policy work in suicide prevention. Here is an overview from Vic Ojakian on three key bills that are currently in the State Assembly.  
  • AB 2017 (McCarty): Establishes a College Mental Health Trust Fund: It was amended and reread in the  Assembly Appropriations Committee and passed 19-0.  It is referred to 2nd reading in the Assembly.
  • AB 2246 (O'Donnell): Required School Districts (LEAs) which have grades 7-12 to have Suicide Prevention Policies. Passed Assembly Appropriations 16-0 and is referred to 2nd reading in the Assembly.
  • AB1644 (Bonta): School based early mental health intervention and prevention services, was amended, reread and passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee 20-0 and is referred to 2nd reading in the Assembly.
PSN Youth-in-Action
Bryant Street Garage Fund
A shout out to teen program specialist Jose Perez for his presentation on the Bryant Street Garage Fund (BSGF) which help bring local teen ideas to life by providing them mentorship and funding. Thank you to teen grantee Shannon Yang for presenting Students United Against Cancer which strives to raise awareness of cancer throughout the student community. Thank you teen grantee William Zhou for presenting Project Enybody a teen group focused on raising awareness of and fighting climate change throughout the community by doing various projects and events. Watch the BSFG animated PSA.
Other BSFG funded projects include: 
  • DocX Films' Unmasked:  Thirteen Palo Alto high school students filmed a documentary, Unmasked, about teen mental health in Palo Alto serving as a way to spark conversation between youth and adults, break the stigma around mental health and inspire hope throughout the community. 
  • Girl Up Palo Alto: Part of the United Nations umbrella organization Girl Up which helps do fundraising for girls education in third world countries. 
  • MakeX: Teens have the opportunity to learn how to use tools and software under the guidance of teen mentors, or work individually on their own projects.
 
  • Science for Sight: Helps raise money for Usher Syndrome which is a genetic condition characterized by deafness at birth or progressive hearing loss and progressive vision loss.
  • Teens Exploring Code: Created by teens for teens dedicated to increasing accessibility to computer science education by putting on free workshops. 
  • Teen History Bowl: A way for teens who love history to share their knowledge in a fun & competitive environment.
 

Inspired to do something for to improve mental health in their community, local Girl Scouts and incoming high school freshman Amelia Creemer, Anna Mendelsohn, and Sophia Guericke are developing an automated text service that helps teens feel supported, connected, and motivated. Each subscriber would have a personalized feed of text messages surrounding their individual challenges. For example, options would include depression, anxiety, school stress, substance abuse, eating disorders, and family issues such as divorce. 

Check out their website that describes their product and original pitch in full detail.

 
 
PSN Partner Jessica Feinberg Shares Her Story

In this issue, we're featuring a courageous Facebook post by Palo Alto Alumni and PSN Partner Jessica Feinberg on how she is dealing with her mental health challenges. Jessica gave PSN special permission to publicize her post.

In her words, "It is May, which means it is Mental Health Month, and I want to take the opportunity and time to share my own story. Below, I am going to talk about my own struggles with mental illness and suicidal ideation...As I have grown older, I have become much more open about my struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety, so this will likely not be a surprise to anyone reading this. However, I think it is still important to share personal stories, especially ones that deal with the grimness of mental illness and not just the parts that can be prettily packaged to fit a recovery model."

Read more >
 

Student-made “Just Because” Video Aims to Break Down Stereotypes, Encourage Openness

Last month 24 Gunn High School students starred in the video "Just Because." The creation of the film involved vulnerability, trust and confidence, as the students opened up about how stereotypes had affected them and their community. “Just Because” aims to defeat preconceptions that people may subconsciously form about certain groups. The video is based off of a poem by Esther Kamkar, in which she writes about her personal attributes and the false stereotypes that accompany them. 
Click on the picture to watch the video.
Local Mental Health Resources, Advocacy Opportunities & Events

This section highlights mental health events, support groups and resources for youth, parents, and caregivers.  Please send submissions to PSNPaloAlto@gmail.com,
Youth Activities & Events 
FREE Summer Drop-in Teen Yoga 
Sponsored by the Palo Alto Medical Foundation
Tuesdays, 4:15-5:15pm
Palo Alto Center, 67 Encina Avenue, Palo Alto
After a long day, teens can drop in to strengthen and stretch their bodies and minds. This fun, interactive curriculum incorporates physical exercise, breath work and activities that help to energize, manage stress and connect better with themselves and their peers.

Community Activities & Events 
A Heart to Heart Seminar: For Boys Only
Sponsored by Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital (LPCH)
Held in two sessions: Jun 22, 2016 & Jun 29, 2016 
LPCH, 725 Welch Rd., Palo Alto
“For Boys Only” is for boys, 10-12 years of age, and their dads or other adult resource person. Each class includes discussions on body changes to expect during puberty, myths vs. facts, what boys should know about girls, sexuality and sexual reproduction.

Teens and Screens: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Wed, July 13, 2016, 6:30-8:00pm
650 Clark Way, Palo Alto, CA 
This session will help parents understand the complex world of social media and technology. Presenters include Dr. Glen Elliott and Dr. Rosalie Whitlock.
 
Transition to High School: Pilot Class
Tues, August 9, 2016, 6:30-8:30pm
Menlo Corporate Center, 4100 Bohannon Drive, Menlo Park
This new class will offer interactive learning and discussion with teens and parents focusing on relationships with peers, family and others. Topics covered will include connection and conflict resolution, respect for self and others, healthy decisions, and family support. Emphasis is on encouraging open communication and respect both within and outside the family. This pilot class is being offered free of charge to the first 40 families who enroll in exchange for their thoughtful review and feedback. A full evaluation will be given at the end of the class.
 
Parent Chat (Sponsored by SELPA ! CAC)
Tues., June 28, 2016, 7-8:30pm
Los Altos Library Orchard Room, Los Altos
Parent Chat is for parents/caregivers of teens and young adults who may have behavioral, emotional or mental health issues. 
 

For more community activities and events, 
please visit our website.
Local Youth Mental Health News
Storify.com (Palo Alto Online, On-going page that captures the numerous voices, opinions and news coverage on teen well-being.)

Santa Clara County commits $600K to youth mental health center (Palo Alto Online, June 16, 2016)

Facebook rolls out suicide-prevention tools globally (San Jose Mercury, June 15, 2016)

Palo Alto’s Project Safety Net seeks input on youth suicide (Palo Alto Online, June 6, 2016)

VIDEO: Behind the Headlines — Palo Alto students speak out (Palo Alto Online, June 3, 2016)

Shining light on dark issues – A Theatre Near U production reflects on youth suicide and mental illness (Palo Alto Online, June 2, 2016)
 

For more news updates,
please visit the PSN Palo Alto website.

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