• Children and teens are also at risk of mental health crises and illnesses. For a young person with symptoms of a mental disorder, the earlier treatment is started, the more effective it can be. Early treatment can help prevent more severe, lasting problems as a child grows up.

  • If you are concerned about a child or teen, a good starting point is the National Institute of Mental Health's page for Child and Adolescent Health and MentalHealth.gov's page for Parents and Caregivers, which include symptoms and indicators of potential mental health issues.

  • It can be difficult to support your child's mental health when you are struggling yourself. HealthyChildren.org offers some tips for how to care for yourself and the young people in your life during challenging times.

  • Consider bringing suicide prevention and mental health awareness training to your child's school.

• Remember, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and other hotlines included at the beginning of this page are available for people of any age, and can be helpful to parents or caregivers worried about a child. 

In Connecticut, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) provides crisis services for children and youth through Mobile Crisis Intervention Services.

Point of entry is through 2-1-1. If a child is in crisis, dial 2-1-1 (open 24/7) and the crisis staff will link you to the appropriate mobile crisis provider for your town. Parents, schools, case managers, or the child or teen themselves can call 2-1-1 for help.

• Adoptive Parent/Child Search

• Age of Majority – Connecticut

• Bullying

• Charter Schools

• Child Abuse – Mandatory Reporters / Mandatory Reporting

• Child Abuse Laws – Connecticut

• Child Guidance Clinics

• Coping with Violent/Traumatic Events

• Cutting – Self-Injury

• Dating Violence/Teen Dating Violence

• Domestic Violence/Partner Abuse

• Drivers License

• Emancipation of Minors

• Employment of Minors/Working Papers for Minors

• Family with Service Needs

• Gambling – Compulsive Gambling

• Gray Area Youth / Youth in Crisis

• Hartford Opportunity Youth Collaborative (HOYC)

• Help for Children With Learning Disabilities

• Internet Safety/Tips for Parents

• Job Corps

• Juvenile Review Boards

• Mandatory School Attendance Age

• Mental Health Crisis Intervention Services/Mobile Crisis Intervention Services – Connecticut

• Mental Health Information – Links

• Minimum Wage – Connecticut

• Resources for Connecticut Families with Children Experiencing or At-Risk for Homelessness

• School Expulsions – Connecticut

• State of Connecticut Department of Education’s Greater Hartford Regional School Choice Office (RSCO)

• Student Financial Assistance

• Suicide

• Summer Food Program

• Summer Youth Employment Program

• Support Groups

• Tips for Getting a Job – Connecticut

• Truancy Laws – Connecticut

• Victims Of Child Sexual Abuse – Statute of Limitations for Reporting/Prosecuting in Connecticut

• Warning Signs Of Youth Violence

• Why Attendance Matters

• Youth and Young Adult Resources