Community Health & Wellbeing

Find a variety of wellness resources to uplift our whole community, reflecting the City Council's 2025 priority focused on public safety, wellness, and belonging. We continue to share wellness resources to combat the United States Surgeon General's 2023 advisory raising awareness of the Loneliness Epidemic. In recognition of National Wellness Month, this community blog is another tool to find resources. A recent community update also shares resources available to support you, youth, and community members experiencing loss and grief.

Local Grief Support

During our toughest times, noting the loss of a Palo Alto youth earlier this week, community connections and our community partners offer a starting place to grieve, support one another and come together.

The resources offered here include grief support, lifelines to get help now, and community anchors to come together with your community for social connection. You are not alone.

Whether you’re going through a crisis or want to help a friend in need, call or text 9-8-8 to talk to a trained counselor who can support you.

Local Grief Support & Resources

  • allcove Grief Support Group: Join allcove Palo Alto and find support navigating your way through grief or loss: Friday, February 6, Wednesday, February 11, and February 13 at 5-6:30 p.m. If you'd like support beyond these dates and times, allcove welcomes you to drop in anytime during center hours. Monday - Friday: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. https://linktr.ee/allcovepaloalto
  • Palo Alto Teen Center: Located at the Mitchell Park Teen Center (3700 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto) and open Monday-Friday 3-6 p.m.
  • Outlet offers Adolescent Counseling Services that serves LGBTQ+ youth ages 5-25 in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties
  • Palo Alto based Project Safety Net Resources: https://www.psnyouth.org/

Teens

  • allcove provides non-urgent mental health support for young people aged 12 to 25. Open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m-7 p.m.
  • Outlet offers Adolescent Counseling Services that serves LGBTQ+ youth ages 5-25 in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties
  • Project Safety Net mobilizes community support and resources in Palo Alto for youth suicide prevention and mental wellness.
  • Palo Alto Link offers free rides for teens (13-18 years old) to specific Palo Alto destinations supporting teen mental health and wellbeing.
  • The Children's Health Council is a local organization offering Teen Therapy Services, including a free 30-minute consultation for teens and family counseling services.
  • County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services-Youth Services https://linktr.ee/PSDYouth
  • Trevor Project Lifeline specializes in crisis help for LGBTQIA+ youth.

Additional hotlines, helplines, and safelines for teens. 

Whole Community

  • Santa Clara County lifeline is a direct connection to free, confidential, and compassionate support for anyone.
  • NAMI Santa Clara County offers practical experience, support, education, comfort and understanding to anyone concerned about mental illnesses and their treatment in Santa Clara County. Call (408) 453-0400 or click here.

Visit our Be Well web page for additional support and resources.

Guides for Navigating Loss and Grief

  • Dougy.org offers Tips for Teens Who are Grieving
  • Children’s Health Council offers a Parents Guide to Talking to Adolescents About Death
  • Kara Community Resources offers guides on navigating the challenges of grief and loss, understanding the grieving process, and supporting grieving family members, friends, and colleagues.

Need Help Now?

Call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 9-8-8

The Palo Alto Police Department stands ready to assist and respond to any calls for help. For emergencies, call 9-1-1; for non-emergencies, call our 24-hour dispatch center at (650) 329-2413.

Youth Wellness

Support and programs for teen mental health.

Substance Use Resources

Senior Wellness

Unhoused Resources

Uplift Local: Be Well

Each week, community wellness resources are shared through the digital Uplift Local newsletter. Find some of these resources below and sign up to receive the newsletter directly to your inbox here.

Prepare for a Year of Self-Care. The start of a new year often brings up all the things we want to accomplish in the coming year. For many, that means prioritizing self-care. From daily exercise or meditation to journaling and eating healthy, self-care looks different to everyone. Learn more about what it is and how you can add some self-care tools to your repertoire.

Forest Bathing for Self-Care and Healing: You don’t have to be a tree-hugger to gain the benefits of being in the forest. Rooted in Japanese medicine, shinrin-yoku or forest bathing, is a great way to reduce blood pressure, reduce stress hormones, improve sleep, and it can even have a preventative effect on cancers. All you need to do to practice: spend time in the forest.

Community Connections Blog Series

The City of Palo Alto provides high quality community services and programs to its residents through its many libraries, parks, community facilities, recreation programs, art and cultural centers, with special consideration for its vulnerable populations such as seniors, children, and people with disabilities. The City also relies on other service providers and nonprofit partners to deliver and enhance community services. This new series celebrates our partners who are helping us build community and foster connectedness through the work they do on behalf of the City advancing the City Council’s 2025 priority Public Safety, Wellness & Belonging.

Other Online Resources

Meditation & Wellness

Fitness & Family Fun

City Services & Programs

Online Resources

General Community Support

Find additional community support services here.

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