Reference Letters and Testimonials
Reference Letters January 2020
Hundreds of letters, testimonials, videos, and more. Please print out and see for yourself the impact Jeff has on his clients.
Call or email us if you have any questions.
800-948-9289 or Betty’s Email
Jeff’s Brochure for 2020
Page 13 is the Full Day with Jeff in your School Community
Please print it out and share
School Resources
Do you think you might be depressed? Take a Depression Survey and See: (Click Here)
Here is where you can find valuable school resources for your school community. Please feel free to link your school or organization website to our page. This is a great tool for your students, teachers and staff, parents and community, and trusted adults visiting your page.
You’ll find resources on a variety of subjects for your benefit. Whenever there is a possibility of suicidal ideation, professional help should be our first responsibility. Never try and be the hero and solve these problems on your own or without the help of a mental health professional.
This page includes links to other sites on the internet which are owned and operated by third parties (“External Sites”). By using this page, you acknowledge that The Jeff Yalden Foundation, Inc. is not responsible for the availability of, or the content located on or through, any External Site. You should contact the site administrator or Webmaster for those External Sites if you have any concerns regarding such links or the content located on such External Sites. The information or opinions expressed on these External Sites do not necessarily reflect those of The Jeff Yalden Foundation, Inc. If at any time the terms and conditions of this Agreement are no longer acceptable to you, you should immediately cease all use of the website.
Understanding Teens and Self-Harm
- Blog: Click Here
- Video on Teens and Self-Harm Click Here
Parenting Teens
Youth Risk Behavior Survey – Click Here
How to develop a strong relationship with your teen – Click Here
Tips for Parents to Stay Involved – Click Here
Perfectionism: Teens Fear of Failure – Click Here
The Momo Challenge: The Successor of The Blue Whale Challenge – Click Here
Teen Issues . . . Teen Life
How to Raise Self-Esteem: 30 Seconds a Day – Click Here
Self-Improvement for Teens: How to be your best everyday – Click Here
Netflix hit series, 13 Reasons Why: My Take
2018 High School Commencement Speech: Graduates of the Class 2018
High Speaker Motivational Speaker Jeff Yalden visits this small Texas School Community rocked by Hurricane Harvey and Two Tornadoes. Watch Video
On the loss of Linkin Park’s Chester Pennington – Click Here
Bullying: Why it happens and How to Deal – Click Here
- Depression: Take a Quiz – Click Here
At-Risk Youth . . . Aren’t All Our Kids At-Risk Today – Click Here
A Simple Way to Make Better Life Choices – Click Here
Teen Suicide & Mental Health Advice
The links contain information about suicide. Facts, statistics, and general information are covered in the following links. For more information regarding youth suicide, please contact us.
TEDx Speaker: Teen Suicide, The “WHY”
Schools are not Responsible to Teen Suicide caused by Bullying – Click Here
Why Teens Commit Suicide – Click Here
Coping with Teen Suicide – Click Here
Teen Suicide: A Friend’s Responsibility – Click Here
Mental Health, Suicide and Suicide of Chris Cornell – Click Here
Suicide: The Forever Decision – Click Here
4 Tips to Save a Teens Life: Suicide Prevention
2015 Youth Risk Behavioral Survey – Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Protective Factors – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Preventing Suicide: A Technical Package of Policy, Programs, and Practices – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
About Teen Suicide (For Parents) – Nemours Foundation
Teen suicide – www.FamilyDoctor.org Editorial Staff
Suicide – Teen Mental Health
Suicide among youth – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Relationship Between Bullying and Suicide– Centers for Disease Control and Preventio
Guide for Suicide Prevention – Rutgers University
After an Attempt
The following links contain information regarding what a person can or should do after a suicide attempt. There are many actions and words that can be detrimental to a person who has recently attempted suicide. It is important to be supportive of someone who has attempted suicide. Certain people close the person who attempted may be in need of support, as well.
After an Attempt – US Department of Health & Human Services
Supporting Someone After a Suicide Attempt – Suicide Line
What Not to Say After An Attempt – LDSLiving
Providing Support After a Suicide Attempt – Beyond Blue
Grief and Loss
It is normal for suicide survivors to experience grief and loss after the death of a loved one. There are many forms of grief and people cope differently. The links below provide information for a myriad of people who may be affected by suicide loss.
Suicide grief: Healing after a loved one’s suicide – Mayo Clinic
Helping a Student Who Has Lost a Friend or Family Member to Suicide – University of Texas Counseling and Mental Health Center
Left Behind After a Suicide – Harvard Medical School
Beyond Surviving – Survivors of Suicide
Suicide Survivors Face Grief, Questions, Challenges – Harvard Medical School
Grief: Coping with reminders after a loss – Mayo Clinic
Communicating with Children After a Suicide – Support After Suicide
Talking to Your Kid About Suicide – Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide
What to Tell Children of a Loved One’s Suicide? – Speaking of Suicide
Understanding Survivors of Suicide Loss – Psychology Today
Bearing the Special Grief of Suicide – Survivors of Suicide Loss
3 Minute Meditation
FREE . . .
Share with your students, classes, school community.
Teach your teens (or for yourself) Jeff’s 3 Minute Mindfulness Meditation
Click on picture or CLICK HERE
Drugs, Alcohol, And Opioid Use
24/7 Drug Rehab: Their community offers a unique perspective on lifelong recovery and substance use prevention, empowering others through stories of strength and courage. From people in active recovery to advocates who have lost loved ones to the devastating disease of addiction, our community understands the struggle and provides guidance born of personal experience. 24/7 HELP . . . Call 855-486-4770.- Alcohol Addiction: Click Here
- Teen Drug and Alcohol Abuse: Click Here
- The Herren Project: Click Here
Bullying
The links below contain information about bullying, cyberbullying, and how to protect children.- Bullying – US Department of Health & Human Services
- Bully-Proofing Your Kid – Kids Health
- CyberBullying – Kids Health
- Helping Kids Deal With Bullies – Kids Health
- Teaching Kids Not to Bully – Kids Health
- How to Bully-Proof Your Children by Building Their Resilience – Psychology Today
- Bully-proofing Your Kids – CNN
Mental Health Issues
Estimates say 90% of people who attempt suicide have an underlying mental health issue – Depression. Depression is one of the leading causes of suicide attempts. The links below will give you information regarding mental health issues and how some of them relate to children or adolescents. The articles listed below were written by Federal and private institutions.- Adolescent and School Heath – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- A to Z Health & Human Development Topics – National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- The Changing Face of America’s Adolescents – Office of Adolescent Health
- A Day in the Life of America’s Adolescents – Office of Adolescent Health
- A Picture of Adolescent Health – Office of Adolescent Health
- Mental Health Disorders – Office of Adolescent Health
- Access to Mental Health Care – Office of Adolescent Health
- Positive Mental Health: Resilience – Office of Adolescent Health
- Adolescent Mental Health Facts : By State – Office of Adolescent Health
- Adolescent Health – Think, Act, Grow Program – Office of Adolescent Health
- Adolescence – When times get tough – Women’s and Children’s Health Network
- Adolescence – Psychology Today
- Teen Depression – National Institute of Mental Health
- Teen Depression Facts – Medicinenet.com
- What is teen depression? – Medicinenet.com
- Teen depression symptoms and signs – Medicinenet.com
- Warnins signs for teen depression – Medicinenet.com
- Teen depression complication, prognosis and prevention – Medicinenet.com
- How can family and friends help a depressed teen? – Medicinenet.com
- Regular Sadness vs. Depression – Nemours Foundation
- Depression – Teen Mental Health
- How to help your depressed teen – Stephanie Dowd, PsyD
- Recognizing teen depression – American Psychiatric Association
- Mental Health – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- Friendship and Mental Health – NAMI
- Mental Disorders – Teen Mental Health
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health – National Institute of Mental Health
- Understanding Your Teen’s Emotional Health – National Institute of Mental Health
- Mental Health and Teens: Watch for Danger Signs – American Academy of Pediatrics
- Anxiety and Depression – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Going to a Therapist – Nemours Foundation
- Anxiety Disorders – National Institute of Mental Health
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD / ADD) – National Institute of Mental Health
- Autism Spectrum Disorder – National Institute of Mental Health
- Bipolar Disorder – National Institute of Mental Health
- Coping with Traumatic Events – National Institute of Mental Health
- Depression – National Institute of Mental Health
- Mental Health Surveillance Among Children — United States, 2005–2011 – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- For Friends and Family Members – US Department of Health & Human Services
- Self-Harm – US Department of Health & Human Services
- Adolescents and Mental Health – World Health Organization
- Adolescent Depression: Early Mental Health Services Are Key – Psychology Today
- Dealing with Suicidal Thoughts – Mayo Clinic
- Surviving Suicidal Thoughts – Students Against Depression
- Bronchitis and Pneumonia Related to Major Depressive Episodes Among Adolescents – SAMHSA
- Asthma and Major Depressive Episodes – SAMHSA
- Diabetes and Major Depressive Episodes – SAMHSA
- Obesity and Major Depressive Episodes – SAMHSA
Substance Abuse
Alcohol and drug use, which clouds judgment, lowers inhibitions, and worsens depression, are associated with 50-67% of suicides. Substance abuse can be a stressor on a young person which can contribute to a youth’s anxiety and unhappiness. This may increase the likelihood of a suicide attempt.- Underage Drinking – National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- Teenage Drinking – HELPGUIDE.ORG
- Teen Drug Abuse – Teen Drug Abuse
- Heroin – National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens
- Causes, Symptoms, and Effects of Heroin Abuse – Village Behavioral Health
- Marijuana – National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens
- Adolescents and Marijuana – Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute: University of Washington
- Marijuana and Mental Health – Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute: University of Washington
- Signs of Underage Alcohol Use – Too Smart to Start
- Talking to your Child About Alcohol – National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Parenting
As parents, we want to do everything that we can to protect our sons and daughters. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death for young people in our nation. The good news is that suicide is preventable. The links below will provide information about talking with your children, childcare, and parenting practices.- Positive Parenting Practices – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- How Youth are Faring in the Transition to Adulthood – National Adolescent and Young Adult Health Information Center
- Talking with Teens – Office of Adolescent Health
- Conversation Tools – Office of Adolescent Health
- Just the Facts – Office of Adolescent Health
- Creating a Childcare Backup Plan – Momtastic
- How to Prepare for Backup Child Care – Care.com
- 8 Tips for Choosing Child Care – Parents
- A Parent’s Role in College Admissions – College Confidential
- College Admission Requirements and the Parent’s Role – Peterson’s
- College Funding: Resources for Parents – US Department of Education
- Stress and Tension When College Students Retun for Breaks – Washington University in St. Louis
- Monitoring Your Teen’s Activities – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Effect of Anger on Families – American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
- What Makes for Successful Co-Parenting After Divorce? – Edward Kruk Ph.D.
- All About Cliques – Peter Adler, PhD; Diane Ross Glazer, PhD
- Protecting Kids from Cyberbullying – Common Sense Media
- Breaking the Cycle: 8 Strategies for Dealing with Conflict with Your Young Teen – Parenthetical
- Understanding Your Child’s Special Needs – PhD in Special Education
- 5 Tips for Helping Teens Cope with Stress – Erlanger A. Turner, Ph.D. 2014
- 10 Things Parents Can Do to Prevent Suicide – American Academy of Pediatrics
Relationships
The relationships between a young person and their peers and parents are vitally important to their mental well-being. Having a strong support structure can deter suicide attempts in youth. Healthy relationships, engagement, and connectedness are discuss in the articles that follow.- Parent Engagement – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- School Connectedness – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Sexual Risk Behavioral Guidelines & Resources – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Researchers Link Adolescent Depression with Unhealth Relationships in Young Adulthood – National Adolescent and Young Adult Health Information Center
- Healthy Relationships: In Healthy Relationships – Office of Adolescent Health
- Dating – Office of Adolescent Health
- LGBT – Office of Adolescent Health
- Dating Violence – Office of Adolescent Health
- Healthy Friendships – Office of Adolescent Health
Miscellaneous
The following links contain information about various other subjects from several different sources.- Locating Services – Office of Adolescent Health
- Find a Therapist – Psychology Today
The Jason Foundation
The Jason Foundation, Inc. (JFI) is an educational organization dedicated to the awareness and prevention of youth suicide. JFI believes that awareness and education are the first steps to prevention. We want to establish a Triangle of Prevention by providing students, parents and teachers/youth workers the tools and resources to possibly identify and help at-risk youth. This is accomplished through a series of programs and services that focus on information about the awareness and prevention of youth suicide. A description of the JFI programs and services are available here. Below is a listing of other resources that may be helpful.- American Association of Suicidology
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- Center for Disease Control: Suicide
- Center for Disease Control: Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System
- The Jed Foundation
- Kid Central TN
- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
- National Council for Suicide Prevention
- National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (PDF)
- Samaritans USA
- Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE)
- Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network
- The Trevor Project
- Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program