TOOLKIT OVERVIEW
A message from Dr. Martinez on the Mental Health Toolkit
Dr. Martinez highlights five ways the Mental Health Toolkit helps bridge the gap in care for underserved families and mental health providers in the community.
Download the full Toolkit here
What's included
Our main mission has focused on developing our NIH-funded Mental Health Toolkit to promote collaboration between families and professionals, encourage early identification and intervention, and strengthen communication and coordination of care.
The toolkit includes:
- Family and Provider Handouts
- Interactive activities for youth and families
- Cinematic short film
- (Victor Luna: My Journey into Mental Health Care)
- Mental Health Podcast
- and more additional resources in development!
By translating research into practical tools, the toolkit helps communities support youth well-being in culturally responsive ways.
Toolkit for Families
Emotion Chart for Everyone
Emotion Chart for Everyone
Handouts for receiving care and interactive activities for families
Emotion Chart for Everyone
Emotion Chart for Everyone
Emotion Chart for Everyone
This activity helps identify how you have been feeling and create space for meaningful conversations about emotions
Toolkit for Providers
Emotion Chart for Everyone
Toolkit for Providers
Handouts for implementing care and guides for implementing instructions
THE TOOLKIT FOR FAMILIES AND PROVIDERS
Dr. Martinez further talks about how the mental health toolkit is designed to empower both families and providers with accessible, evidence-based strategies that foster collaboration, promote early intervention, and support overall well-being. It serves as a bridge to strengthen communication and coordination of care within diverse communities
This toolkit contains materials for families
that are embarking upon their mental health journey,
and for providers to engage families in care, including:
Understanding Help-Seeking for Mental Health
This toolkit provides useful resources, but it is NOT a substitute for professional care. If you, your child or family, are experiencing emotional, attentional, or behavioral difficulties, reaching out to a healthcare provider or mental health professional can help. Support is available, and asking for help is a positive step.
Step 1: Start with Your Primary Care Provider
Primary care providers (like family doctors or nurse practitioners) can be a helpful first step for youth and families. They can:
- Talk about mood, stress, sleep, focus, and behavior
- Check for concerns like anxiety, depression, or attention difficulties
- Provide early support and guidance
- Connect you with a mental health specialist if needed
Step 2: Consider Therapy
Therapists (e.g. psychologists, social workers, counselors) provide a safe, supportive space for youth and families to talk and learn coping skills. They can help with:
- Ongoing stress, anxiety, or feeling overwhelmed
- Sadness or low mood
- Challenges with focus, behavior, or relationships.
Step 3: Psychiatric Support (if needed)
In some cases, meeting with a psychiatrist may be helpful.
They can:
- Evaluate emotional, attentional, or behavioral concerns
- Help determine whether medication could be helpful
Family Activities
Family Handouts
Emotion Chart
Instructor Guides
Provider Handouts
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