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Stanford Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing

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What is The Stanford Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing?

The Need

The data on adolescent health and educational success in the US is of great concern. High rates of depression, alcohol and drug abuse, teen pregnancy, youth violence, and low college graduation rates compared to other industrialized nations indicate that something is missing in our support for young people.  Adolescence has become a perilous rite of passage for many youth. We need a new culture of adolescent wellbeing across the United States that builds skills, resilience, and opportunities for a healthy path into adulthood.

Some key facts

We know that US teens are more stressed than ever before. In a 2013 survey, teens reported higher stress levels than adults and many also reported feeling overwhelmed, depressed or sad as a result of stress.

(Bethune, 2014)

Fifty percent of mental health disorders have their onset by the age of 14 and seventy five percent emerge before the age of 25.

(Kessler et al, 2005)

The adolescent brain is especially malleable to both positive and negative influences and the period from 12-25 is the last critical opportunity to affect the healthy development of our young people.

(Steinberg, 2014)

Core Components

The Stanford Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing is built on 3 core components:

Meet our Team

Steven Adelsheim, MD
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Director

Vicki Harrison, MSW
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Program Director

Sinda Chun, MPH
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Administrative and Finance Manager

Cristiane Cunial, MBA
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Implementation Management Consultant

Judith Dauberman, PhD
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Program Manager

Pia Ghosh, MPH
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Program Manager 

Sarah Kremer, PhD
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Implementation Manager 

Marilyn Lopez Mota
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Youth Outreach Coordinator

Shirley Mak, EdM
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Program Manager

Andrea Martínez, MPH
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Brand and Communications Manager

Christy Matta, MA
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Clinical Services and Training Manager

Raúl Poulsen, MD
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Clinical Assistant Professor 

Ana Lilia Soto, MA
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Youth Development Manager

Jeremiah Simmons, PhD (Navajo/Yankton Sioux)
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Post-doctoral Fellow

Steve Sust, MD
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Clinical Assistant Professor

Jules Villanueva-Castaño 
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Peer Support and Supported Education and Employment Manager

Wendy Walker
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Administrative Associate