Student Leadership in Action
Student Leadership in Action
Welcome to the heart of change. This page is where inspiration meets action - where dedicated students from across Contra Costa County share their voics, projects, and leadership in mental health.
Young people know best what it's like to grow up in today's world. From anxiety to isolation, from stress over school and social pressures, to questioning where to turn for help - youth know these challenges firsthand. That's why the Contra Costa Office of Education Mental Health Youth Coalition is driven by student leaders who are crafting real change, lifting up peer support, and working to ensure mental health conversations are heard, understood, and normalized.
Every voice matters. Every story heals to heal. Dive in, get inspired, and consider how you might join the movement today!
2025 Out of the Darkness Walk
Members of the Youth Mental Health Coalition joined the Out of the Darkness Walk in Oakley, CA to raise awareness about suicide prevention and show support for those impacted by mental health challenges
Coping & Self-Care
Exhaling The Pressure Presentation
The Contra Costa County Office of Education Youth Mental Health Coalition presented this interactive workshop at the Teens Tackle Tobacco Conference at UC Berkeley in 2025. This workshop explores how stress and mental health challenges can lead teens toward substance use.
Through peer-to-peer engagement, Coalition members helped students identify healthy versus unhealthy coping mechanisms and shared practical stress management techniques.
Mental Health Awareness
Wellness Together: Talking About Mental Health
This peer-created and peer-led training empowers students to understand mental health, recognize warning signs, and support themselves and others.
Developed and presented by students for students, it addresses breaking down stigma around mental health conditions, identifying barriers to treatment, self-care strategies, and suicide prevention. This training equips peers with practical communication skills for approaching someone in distress and connecting them with resources.
Suicide Prevention
National Suicide Prevention Month
This peer-created and peer-led presentation raises awareness about suicide prevention and equips students with tools to support themselves and others.
Developed and presented by students, it covers critical statistics, V-A-R- method (Validate, Appreciate, Refer) for helping someone in crisis, and practical coping strategies including creating safe spaces, building healthy connections, and activities like journaling, meditation, and spending time outdoors.
Substance Use Awareness
Addiction and Teens Virtual Panel
This peer-led discussion on how addiction and substance use disorder impacts teens, and what families can do to support young people who are struggling. This panel featured youth perspectives alongside experts from Contra Costa Health, offering insight, resources, and practical strategies for parents and caregivers.
Stigma Reduction
Directing Change Contest:
'Unfold Hope'
"Unfold Hope" won statewide second place in the mental health category. There were over 1300 film submissions for the different categories from 209 schools and 37 counties.
