Free Help: New Virtual Mental Health Resources for California’s Youth

In an effort to improve mental health among California’s youth, the Department of Health Care Services is introducing two groundbreaking tools for families in the state.

These tools are free to all California residents, regardless of income, health insurance or immigration status. No insurance and no referrals are needed. For more information about these tools, visit calhope.org.

BrightLife Kids: A CalHope Program by Brightline

BrightLife Kids is a virtual mental health platform for California families with children ages 0-12. Support your kids’ behavioral health and wellbeing with digital tools, resources and virtual support from experts in youth mental health.

• Helps teach kids how to manage sadness, worries, anger, social challenges, family relationships, self-confidence and more.
• Helps parents build confidence and structure.
• Bilingual coaches (English/Spanish) and translation to 17 other languages available.
• Diverse coaches and coaches who have experience with LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and gender-diverse populations.
• Age-appropriate educational content including articles, videos and podcasts.

BrightLife Kids is available for download on iOS devices in the Apple App Store and will be available for Android devices in mid-2024. You can also visit brightlife.kids to create an account.

Soluna (ages 13 – 25)

Soluna is a free mental health service for 13 – 25 year olds in California. Teens and young adults can chat confidentially with coaches or explore mental health tools.

• The ability to chat one-on-one with a professional coach.
• Interactive tools to de-stress.
• Digital journals, where teens and young adults can honestly and openly jot down ideas and thoughts.
• Resources, backed by research, that are designed to bring calm, confidence and focus.
• Forums where people can post questions, get or give advice, or chat about what’s on their mind.
• The app is self-guided and anonymous.

Soluna is available for download on iOS and Android devices.

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For more resources, visit our Support and Education webpage. To learn about Easterseals Southern California’s resources and services for children, including Head Start and Early Head Start programs, visit our website.