
Resources and opportunities for young people and Youth Peer Advocates while social distancing.
We are young. We are strong. We are Youth Power.
Opportunities

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Virtual Youth Fest Every Thursday @ 4pm
An inspiring online event designed for youth and young adults featuring speakers, entertainment, fun activities, and information on a variety of topics important to YOUth.

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We are calling on YOU to Create and share something that expresses what mental health and wellness means to you and/or what you think others should know about mental health.
Spread hope and win prizes! Submissions accepted through May 31st, 2020. Learn more at www.ffcmh.org/mental-health-art-gallery

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Statewide Peer Leaders Support and Development Meetings
Held biweekly for Youth Peer Advocates to connect, share resources, ideas, and explore the successes and challenges of providing Youth Peer Support while social distancing.
Contact your local Regional Youth Partner to join.

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Apply for the YP! Network Leadership Council
Join forces with peers create systems change and empower young people across the state.

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Use emails, social media and phone calls to fight for access to children’s behavioral health, alternatives to school suspensions, youth justice reform and family-based foster care.

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We are excited to announce our first podcast, Free to Be! Free to Be is about LGBTQ+ youth in New York State and the topics that matter to them. Hosted by Imari Wilson and Zack Kilmer, FTNYS staff members and LGBTQ+ identifying young adults.
We will be discussing the history of the LGBTQ+ pride movement in the United States and how it all started right here in NYS. View the full announcement to subscribe and learn how you can be featured on our first episode! https://conta.cc/3dwG81U
Resources
- Mental Health
- Online Support Groups
- Physical Health
- Financial Resources
- Activities & Art
- Education
- Additional Guidance
Breathe2Relax – is a stress management app, which will help you learn how to perform and use diaphragmatic breathing techniques for stress control. (Apple) (Google Play)
Calm Harm is an app that offers support to those that are considering self-harm. You have access to activities that help you identify what you’re feeling and to take your mind away from it.
Clear Fear is an app that offers support and activities for people who suffer from mild to severe anxiety.
Headspace – short 10-minute meditations (Apple) (Google Play)
Mindshift CBT – uses scientifically proven strategies based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you learn to relax and be mindful, develop more effective ways of thinking, and use active steps to take charge of your anxiety.
Stop, Breathe, and Think – simple activities and meditation to help check in on your emotions PTSD Coach. PTSD Coach was designed for those who have, or may have, posttraumatic and feeling (Apple) (Google Play)
Vent is a virtual resource for people to express their feelings to people who care.
Woebot – Anxiety, depression and mindfulness tool that provides tiny conversations to help you feel at your best. (Apple) (Google Play)
Worrykit provides exercises and activities for people who need a moment to relax and clear their thoughts, fears, or worries.
AA Virtual Meetings– AA is meeting people where they are at by offering virtual meetings, click the link and put in your zip code to find a meeting.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) offers an anonymous peer-to-peer online anxiety and depression support group for individuals and their families to share information and experiences.
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) provides online, peer-led support groups for people living with depression and bipolar disorder. DBSA support groups serve peers, young adults, and friends and family members.
GovTeen –Forum for and by teens with mental health conditions
Mental Health America has a webpage that serves as a discussion board for people who are looking for community and support on various topics.
Narcotics Anonymous – online meetings in various time zones using multiple platforms.
OK2Talk– online blog for teens and youth to share feelings about mental health.
Open to Hope offers an online support forum where individuals share their stories and connect to others coping with grief and loss.
Q Chat Space is a virtual community for LGBTQ+ teens to find and give support in live chats facilitated by folks with lived experience.
Schizophrenia & Related Disorders Alliance of America (SARDAA) offers conference call groups for individuals and family & friends.
Support Group Central offers virtual support groups on various mental health topics. Groups are typically run by mental health professionals from non-profit agencies. Group dates/times vary depending on the topics. Support groups are free or low-cost.
Smart Recovery provides free, peer-led support and chat groups. Conversations are moderated to prevent discrimination or aggression.
https://teenlineonline.org/ – or get the Teen Talk App – text TEEN to 839863
Unity Recovery is offering virtual support groups. They offer one-on one meetings, group meetings, and family support meetings.
Fiton is a free app where many people post fitness/workout videos that you can follow along with.
YouTube- you can find many free fitness videos on YouTube to follow along to.
AllTrails: Trail Guides & Maps for Hiking, Camping, and Running | AllTrails– While our day-to-day routines have changed pretty dramatically, it’s important to remember that we need to find ways to take care of ourselves. We might need to keep some physical distance from each other for a while, but we don’t need to shut ourselves in. The outdoors is still open for business (just remember to practice social distancing!). AllTrails is a website and app that helps you find local trails and open spaces.
Internet Service Providers (Free/Reduced Internet Access)
Questions about the Federal Stimulus Package and What it Means for You?
Qualifying & Applying for Unemployment Benefits During COVID-19
Homeless Youth Access Guide to COVID Stimulus Payments
Economic Impact Payments for COVID-19: The Basics
Grants
- Robin Hood Relief Fund
- The Giving Compass Has compiled a list of almost 100 (as of 3/24/2020) emergency COVID-19 funders across the country
- The Community Foundations blog has several resources for local funding divided by state
- No Kid Hungry
- The CDC Foundation and the Center for Disaster Philanthropy
- Dunkin Joy Corona Virus (Covid-19) Emergency Grants
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD has released Guidance for individuals who are struggling to make mortgage or rent payments.
If you recently lost your job due to COVID-19 you may be eligible for NYS unemployment benefits .
Mindful Coloring
Journaling Resources, Prompts, and Templates
- Bullet Journaling
- Bullet Journaling for Mental Health and Anxiety
- Future Self Journaling Worksheets
- I Am Grateful for…. Worksheet
Happify – Happify is an app that assesses a variety of domains in your life and takes you through modules (games, activities, exercises) that are designed to reflect those domains to increase happiness and reduce stress.
Gaming: Kongregate – Free online games ranging from casual if you just have a few minutes to longer-form games that you can come back to. Additionally, one can watch walkthroughs of new games when they come out on YouTube, if they cannot be afforded.
Art: Google Doodles – We’ve all seen the Google Doodles that appear during special events or to honor specific people. This is the archive that you can get lost in.
Music: Song Maker – A quick and fun way to let out some noise while on your computer. Song Maker lets you easily construct songs, play them back, and remix them.
Entertainment: Open Culture – 1,000’s of movies for free, including classics, indies, film noir, documentaries and more.
Art: Virtual Museum Tour – Take a virtual tour of some of the world’s greatest museums and heritage sites.
Nature: Animal Cams – Check out these amazing feeds! From jellyfish to an African watering hole.
Attend Virtual Concerts : Many are free and open to everyone!
Indigenous School Teachers – Stay connected to learning and learn more about indigenous culture.
Houseparty – Stay connected with friends, play games, and see everyone on the same screen in an easy to pop in and out of “house”.
Journaling/Writing – Penzu – A free online journal/diary creation site
Aquariums and Zoos: Live Feeds
- Aquarium of the Pacific
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Maryland Zoo
- The National Aquarium
- San Diego Zoo
- Reid Park Zoo
- Woodland Park Zoo
- Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Podcasts
Museums with Virtual Tours
- The Louvre located in Paris, is one of the world’s largest art museums and offers free virtual tours of popular exhibits.
- The Solomon R Guggenheim Museum located in New York offers a chance to view the collection and learn about the artist.
- The National Gallery of Arts is located in Washington DC they offer both video tours and interactive activities.
- The British Museum offers both virtual tours and also a chance to view the collection online
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is one of the most visited museums in the world and offers a room by room view of its exhibits.
- NASA offers free virtual tours of the Langley Research Center and Glenn Research Center.
- The Dali Theater – Museum offers a virtual tour of the grounds and also a few exhibits
- National Woman’s History Museum in Virginia provides access to oral histories and online exhibits
- National Museum of the US Airforce offers virtual tours and the museums podcast
- Google Art Project has partnered with over 1200 museums around the world to provide virtual tours to see the featured locations to see all of the sites.
- History Colorado offers a podcast that shares stories of travel across Colorado.
- National Gallery of Art: Washington DC
- The world’s most famous tulip garden tours
Yale’s ‘Happiness’ Course is Free Online – Make a Coursera account (free) to access
Education/Inspiration: Ted Talks – The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less).