Kickstart: Prevention & Early Intervention for Youth Mental Health

Kickstart is a clinical program built to educate the community, support youth, and help families prevent the onset of psychosis. The team works with young people ages 10 to 25, their families, and their broader social networks to build support and promote success in relationships, education, and employment. Kickstart is funded through the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency and the Mental Health Services Act, and takes a recovery-oriented approach centered on hope, education, and early action.

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Who We Are

The Kickstart team is made up of mental health professionals trained specifically to assess and treat youth showing early warning signs of psychosis. The team:

  • Educates community members to help identify young people showing early warning signs
  • Conducts confidential assessments designed to identify psychosis risk
  • Provides individualized treatment for participants and their families
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Working With the Community

Research shows that educating the public and community leaders significantly increases the chance that a young person receives early treatment, which can reverse the negative effects of psychosis. Kickstart actively partners with schools, colleges, healthcare providers, military and spiritual leaders, law enforcement, and community centers, the people most likely to be first to notice these warning signs, to reduce stigma and increase early identification.

Who We Serve

Kickstart provides confidential assessment and early support for young people ages [confirm age] who may be at risk for mental illness in San Diego County.

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Recognizing Early Warning Signs

The following can be early indicators of a developing psychotic illness, especially when they appear together or worsen over time:

  • Difficulty with focus, concentration, or memory
  • Hearing sounds or voices, seeing things, or sensing things others don’t perceive
  • Trouble following or being understood in conversation
  • Excessive fear or suspicion
  • Increased sensitivity to light, sound, or touch, or a decreased sense of smell
  • Sudden changes in behavior, thinking, sleep, or appetite
  • Withdrawal from friends and family
  • A drop in school or work performance

If you’re concerned about a young person in your life, reaching out early can make a meaningful difference in their outcome.

Contact Kickstart

6160 Mission Gorge Rd., #100,
San Diego, CA 92120
Phone: (619) 481-3790 | Fax: (619) 481-3797

Your information is confidential and HIPAA-secure.