Mental Health

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

• Crisis counseling for urgent concerns; available 24 hours a day.
• Counseling for an evaluation and brief counseling for students.
• Consultation and Outreach for faculty, staff, parents or students who are concerned about a Stanford student.
• Groups and Workshops
• Referrals and Referral Resources
• Obtaining Accomodations Related to Mental Health Needs  
• Emotional Support Animals and CAPS

Below is a list of potentially helpful online mental health resources. 

The CAPS clinicians have worked to pre-screen different online-based resources and phone apps that could benefit Stanford students. As always, students should use discretion in deciding which of these resources are helpful.

Self-Help Mental Wellness Resources

• Joyable: An online-based treatment for social anxiety that utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy. In addition to learning skills to conquer social anxiety through the online platform, the program also utilizes personalized coaching through phone, text or email to support users' experience of the intervention and progress. 
• MoodGYM: A free, innovative, interactive web program designed to help people with depression and anxiety. It consists of five modules, an interactive game, anxiety and depression assessments, downloadable relaxation audio, a workbook and feedback assessment.
  • Using flash diagrams and online exercises, MoodGYM teaches the principles of cognitive behavior therapy—an evidence-based treatment for depression. It also demonstrates the relationship between thoughts and emotions, and works through dealing with stress and relationship break-ups, as well as teaching relaxation and meditation techniques.
• Online Mental Health Screening: Free, anonymous screenings for depression, anxiety problems, eating disorders, and alcohol problems. This screening tool can help you decide if meeting with a therapist might be helpful
• ULifeline: An anonymous online resource for college mental health where you can find excellent self-assessment tools and fact sheets on mental health
• Half of Us: Sponsored by ULifeline, Half of Us has videos and blogs from celebrities about mental health issues
• Each Mind Matters: Each Mind Matters is California’s Mental Health Movement. We are a community of individuals and organizations dedicated to a shared vision of mental wellness and equality.
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: Aims to improve the lives of people living with mood disorders
• American Psychological Association: Provides self-help brochures on mental health and psychological issues

• MARC (Mindful Awareness Research Center) at UCLA: The MARC center's site contains information about online mindfulness meditation classes and also free guided meditations.

Mindfulness Resources

• Windhover: A venue designed specifically to promote mindfulness/meditation, and they offer a beginning meditation sessions. The teacher for the session may have additional knowledge of resources for further continued classes or training.
• Redwood City Insight Meditation Center: Teaching meditation and mindfulness. Gil Frondsdal, the Director, has a PhD from Stanford. While grounded in Buddhist philosophy, the center is open to all people. From the website: “IMC welcomes anyone and everyone who has an interest in the teachings and practices we offer. We aspire for our community to represent the wide range of diversity found in our society. IMC is intended to be a spiritual home for everyone who practices here.” The center has downloadable talks, so that you can listen and try out for yourself the style of teaching before deciding whether or not to visit the center. There are no fees for this center.
• Mindfulness by Dr. James Doty: A simple introduction to mindfulness by Dr. James Doty, a Stanford neurosurgeon, who is also involved in the Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism Research Center.
• Compassion Cultivation Training: Offered regularly at C-CARE and is based in, and provides, mindfulness training. There is a fee for the class.
• Zen Student Group: A group on campus that meets weekly for meditation (for beginners and advanced practitioners).
• Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction at Stanford: Regular 8 week courses offered year-round. There is a fee for the class.
• The Fragrant Heart: Offering free online guided meditation exercises.
  • Make Peace with Your Mind: How Mindfulness and Compassion Can Free You from Your Inner Critic: A book that may prove to be a helpful resource. 

Phone Apps for Mindfulness

• Liberate Meditation
• Insight Meditation Timer
• Headspace
• Stop, Breathe and Think 
  • Stop, Breathe and Think also includes an emotion identification component.

Phone Apps for Mental Wellness

• Headspace: A popular and engaging meditation app that allows users to learn the basic principles of meditation and guides you through meditation exercises.
• Happify: A "science-based happiness" app that engages users through games and activities in learning how to overcome stress and worry and increase daily happiness.

Note: CAPS does not endorse or monitor information contained in the links above, and they are provided solely as an additional outside resource.