Teen Mental Health
YouthFirst is committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of teens. We offer opportunities for both teens and adults to gain knowledge and skills to support one another, and to become advocates for policy change to address the mental health challenges facing today’s teens. Our 2026 – 2027 offerings include:
- Peer Mental Health Advocates
- Teen Mental Health Workshops
- Workshops focused on Teen Mental Health—for Adults
- Youth Mental Health First Aid Certification—for Adults
Opportunities for Teens
Peer Mental Health Advocates (PMHA)
Please Note: Registration for PMHA will open in early August. If you are interested in joining, please complete our YouthFirst Interest Form
Our Peer Mental Health Advocates are teens in our community who play a unique role at Jewish Family and Children’s Services in promoting an understanding of the importance of maintaining mental health, building a culture of support, and advocating for change.
Here is the 2026 – 2027 PMHA Calendar. Peer mental health focused events are highlighted in purple, advocacy focused events are highlighted in orange—we hope you can join us for all of these events!
| Date | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, October 6 | 6:30pm – 8:30pm | Welcome and Peer Mental Health Workshop 1: In Person—JFCS San Mateo |
| Tuesday, October 13 | 7:00pm – 8:30pm | Mental Health Workshop: In Person—JFCS San Mateo |
| Tuesday, November 10 | 7:30pm – 8:30pm | Mental Health Workshop: In Person—JFCS San Mateo |
| Tuesday, December 8 | 7:30pm – 8:30pm | Focus on Advocacy: Zoom Meeting |
| Tuesday, January 5 | 7:00pm – 8:30pm | Mental Health Workshop: In Person—JFCS San Mateo |
| Tuesday, February 9 | 7:30pm – 8:30pm | Focus on Advocacy: Zoom Meeting |
| Tuesday, March 9 | 7:00pm – 8:30pm | Mental Health Workshop: In Person—JFCS San Mateo |
| Tuesday, March 23 | 7:30pm – 8:30pm | Focus on Advocacy: Zoom Meeting (Sacramento Trip) |
| Tuesday, April 6 | 7:30pm – 8:30pm | Focus on Advocacy: Zoom Meeting (Sacramento Trip) |
| Tuesday, April 20 | 7:30pm – 8:30pm | Focus on Advocacy: Zoom Meeting (Sacramento Trip) |
| Thursday, April 29 | 7:30pm – 8:30pm | Focus on Advocacy: Zoom Meeting (Sacramento Trip) Only teens attending the Sacramento trip and their parents |
| May 3–4, 2027 | Overnight | Sacramento Lobby Trip + JPAC |
*One or two dates may be added or changed
Peer Mental Health Advocates will:
- Learn from professionals in the field about how to recognize when a peer is experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis, and the steps to take to get an adult involved and access the resources available to help. The course will be taught by Deborah Schneider, YouthFirst Regional Director, who is certified as a Teen Mental Health First Aid instructor. We will be inviting special guests from the mental health field to join for sessions and to share insight into specialty areas.
- Gain experience in creating awareness about important issues regarding mental health and social media.
- Advocate for mental health-related issues in our State Legislature and build skills to effectively communicate and present ideas, views and opinions to others.
We hope you will participate in the entirety of this program, but it is designed to accommodate different interests.
If you are interested in participating in the Mental Health Workshops ONLY—please plan to attend October 26, December 16, January 27 and March 10 programming.
If you are interested in participating in the Advocacy Workshops ONLY—please plan to attend October 26 in person and the online workshops on November 18, January 13, February 10, March 24, April 7, May 5 and the trip to Sacramento May 11-12 (optional).
Cost for PMHA is $118.
Please Note: Registration for PMHA will open in early August. If you are interested in joining, please complete our YouthFirst Interest Form
Teen Mental Health Workshops
These 90-minute workshops help teens recognize the signs of mental health struggles—whether in themselves or in their friends—and know what to do next. Participants will learn how to identify warning signals, practice supportive ways to respond, and understand where to turn for trusted help in the community.
Led by Deborah Schneider, Regional Director of Teen Services in Palo Alto and a certified Teen Mental Health First Aid instructor, our workshops are offered in partnership with local youth-serving organizations.
Workshop participants will learn:
- Jewish values related to mental health and Jewish practices that can support mental health.
- Warning signs of mental health struggles.
- What to say and how to say it when concerned about a friend’s or family member’s mental health.
- Local mental health resources and services, and how to access them.
- When and how to use Narcan and where to acquire it.
If you are interested in hosting a Mental Health Workshop for Teens, email Deborah Schneider at: [email protected]
Opportunities for Adults Who Work With Teens
Teen Mental Health Workshops
JFCS will offer a similar 90-minute workshop focused on Teen Mental Health but geared towards an adult audience. This workshop will be taught by Debra Sagan Massey—Director of Youth Programs and Services at JFCS—who is a certified instructor in Youth Mental Health First Aid. Cost of the Teen Mental Health Workshop for a group of adults is $350. To book a Teen Mental Health Workshop for adults, email Debra at: [email protected].
Certification in Youth Mental Health First Aid
If you are a parent of a teen, work with teens, or care about teens in your community, this essential certification is for you.
Youth Mental Health First Aid is a course which introduces adults to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents. Participants will develop their understanding of the importance of early intervention, and learn how to help an adolescent who is in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge.
Program Format:
- Two-hour online pre-course (all participants)
- In-person course: One five-hour session or two three-hour sessions delivered one week apart.
The cost of hosting a Youth Mental Health First Aid Certification is $500 for an instructor (up to 30 participants) and $23.95/person for the materials.
For more information on how to bring this training to your colleagues, neighborhood, faith community or school, email Debra Massey [email protected]
