Help For Your Family

​​Navigating mental health challenges is difficult for everyone involved. We have curated a list of resources below to empower caregivers and loved ones by knowing what to expect and learning how to cope with any anxieties around the process of seeking mental health support.

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Do you need help now? Call, text or chat​ ​988​ Suicide & Crisis Lifeline​

​​​​​Parent Stress Line - Trained volunteer counselors. Call 800-632-8188​

Everyday Tools For Families

We encourage regular communication about feelings and coping skills. 

• ​​​​Accessing Children's Mental Health Services Guide - Step-by-step guidance on how to start the process of getting mental health support for your child.​
  
• Feelings Thermometer - Easy-to-use tool to help your child identify and communicate their feelings visually.​​
  
• ​Handling a Mental Health Crisis Guide - Understand what to do when your child is in crisis and how to act quickly and effectively.​
  
• Mental Health Crisis Card - Keep this card with you for quick, helpful reminder steps of what to do when faced with a mental health emergency.
  
• Pause for​ a Moment - A simple 4-step tool to walk you through how to reset when things feel out of control.
  
• Support for Families​ - Contact information for specific organizations across the state with resources available for families facing mental health challenges.​​

​​Getting Started In Seeking Support ​​​​It can feel daunting to ask for help. You are not alone in needing support! Complete Guide to Getting Good Care - Child Mind Institute Teen Mental Health: How to Know When Your Child Needs Help - Healthy Children   Advocating For Your Child - American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry What To Do While You Wait for Children's Mental Health Services - Wisconsin Office of Children's Mental Health What To Know About Therapy ​​​​​​​Therapy is about skill building, and parents need to be involved, too.  How to Find a Therapist  - Courageous Parents Network What to Expect When Sending Your Child or Teen to Counseling - Choosing Therapy Preparing Teens to Seek Professional Help - Center for Parent &​​ Teen Communication When You And Your Child's Clinicians Have Different Ideas Or Styles  - Courageous Parents Network Interactive Websites for Young People ​Support for young adults who want to handle challenges at their own pace. ​ Mental Health is Health - Take Control of Your Emotional Health Jed Foundation - I Want to Take Care of my Mental Health Seize the Awkward - Taking Care of Your Own Mental Health Now Matters Now - Coping Skill Tutorial Change to Chill - Mindfulness & Stress Relief Resources for Teens ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ If you have difficulty accessing our materials, or using our website, please let us know by emailing OCMH@wi.gov​.  We take digital accessibility seriously and welcome the opportunity to remove any barriers in accessing content. ​​ Do you need help now? Call, text or chat​ 988​ Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Find additional resources at our Support for Families page.

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