Where to get local help:
If the person is cooperative and not in imminent danger (has not harmed him/herself), you can call the person's primary care physician, school counselor/psychologist or mental health professional for advice about where to seek evaluation promptly. School staff can help expedite an evaluation and ensure that the student remains safe.
If you have concerns about a person's physical safety or ability to cooperate fully with an evaluation, you should get them to the nearest emergency room. Not all hospitals can admit patients for psychiatric issues, which might require transfer to another facility. For obvious emergencies, call 911.
Clinics that will triage and/or see individuals
• Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford and Clinics: 650-723-7704 for children and teens; 650-498-9111 for adults
• Palo Alto Medical Foundation psych intake line: 408-730-4370 (leave a message for non-urgent issues, response time within three days; call your primary care physician's office for same-day response and expedited evaluation)
• El Camino Hospital ASPIRE Intensive Outpatient Programs: 650-940-7000 (Mountain View); 408-866-4021 (Los Gatos)
• Mills Peninsula Health Services 650-696-4666. (For non-urgent issues, leave a message; response time within four hours. Staff will assess for appropriateness for various outpatient programs and can refer to local community behavioral health providers.)
Crisis intervention and support
• The Santa Clara County Suicide and Crisis Services line is available 24/7 to provide support for suicidal persons and those around them: 855-278-4204
• California Youth Crisis Line: 800-843-5200; youthcrisisline.org
• Trevor Project Lifeline, specializing in crisis help for GLBTQ youth: 866-488-7386
• EMQ Families First Services, a mobile crisis team who can assess youth at their home or school site throughout Santa Clara County: 877-41-CRISIS (877-412-7474)
General support and resources
• HEARD Alliance, a local consortium to address teen behavioral health issues: HEARDAlliance.org
• Project Safety Net: psnpaloalto.com
• Kara: kara-grief.org; 650-321-5272
• ROCK at Gunn is a student-led, faculty-guided peer support group that runs a website where personal narratives of hope, help and strength are posted: rockatgunn.tumblr.com/
• "Henry M. Gunn Gives Me Hope" (HMGGMH) was created by a Gunn senior to offer a place for students, parents, teachers and alumni to post and share positive thoughts: hmggmh.wordpress.com
• Caltrain Suicide Prevention page
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• Reachout.com for online support
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