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​ ​An easy-to-follow clickable guide to help you find the right mental health care for your child, from identifying a need to diagnosis to treatment.​ ​Teen Mental Health: How to Know When Your Child Needs Help - Healthy Children  ​ ​A brief Q&A to learn about common pressures and difficulties teens today face, plus signs they may need support and how to take the next steps for their well-being.​ ​Advocating For Your Child - American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry ​Quick list with questions you can use with providers to be your child’s best advocate when seeking mental health care.​ ​What To Do While You Wait​ for Children's Mental Health Services - Wisconsin Office of Children's Mental Health ​​One-page handout that offers practical steps to take while you wait for care at the doctor’s office, for therapy, at your school, and at home.​ 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 ​Not sure where to start? This short 3-step PDF guide will walk you through how to find a therapist who fits your child's needs.​ ​What to Expect When Sending Your Child or Teen to Counseling - Choosing Therapy ​What should you expect? Breaking down parents’ Frequently Asked Questions to understand the therapy process and what role you can play in your child’s journey.​ ​Preparing Teens to Seek Professional Help - Center for Parent &​​ Teen Communication ​Addressing common questions or hesitations your teen might voice about starting professional mental health services.​ ​When You And Your Child's Clinicians Have Different Ideas Or Styles  - Courageous Parents Network ​Short PDF with simplified​​ scripts for what to say when your approach doesn’t align with the therapist’s.​ ​ Interactive Websites for Young People ​Support for young adults who want to handle challenges at their own pace. ​ ​Take Control of Your Emotional Health​ - Mental Health is Health Learn that ​mental health is just as important as physical health with informational and interactive tools to promote emotional well-being. ​ ​I Want to Take Care of my Mental Health​ - JED Foundation ​Drop-down menus to guide teens and youth to tailored practical advice, tools, and stories, ​based on how they're feeling, what they're experiencing, and more. ​Taking Care of Your Own Mental Health - Seize The Awkward ​Offers tips, videos, and real stories to help teens recognize when a friend or themselves are struggling, and how to manage their well-being. ​Coping Skill Tutorial​ - Now Matters Now ​​​Interactive tools to build coping skills for teens emphasizing their choice in how they want to navigate challenging moments. ​ ​Mindfulness & Stress Relief Resources for Teens​ - Change to Chill ​​Teen-focused mindfulness exercises and stress relief tools to help your child take control of their emotional well-being.​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 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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