Emergency: Dial 911
Mental Health Crisis involving youth?
Dial 2-1-1 for crisis intervention/ Emergency Mobile Respsonse (EMPS)
Other Important Crisis Resources:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (adults and children) (800) 273-8255
Kids in Crisis 24 hour helpline: 203-661-1911 (KIC is based in Stamford CT)
Crisis Text Line: Text CONNECT to 741741
Trevor Project: Crisis intervention services for LGBTQ youth 24/7 Crisis phone line and Mon-Fri 3-10 EST youth can text START to 678678 for support
Find substance use treatment information 24/7 in CT: (800) 563-4086 (DMHAS)
REGIONAL CRISIS line for adult mental health crisis: (800) 586-9903
For mental health insurance help: here is a good informational article, How to Make Your Insurance Work For You, written by a local therapist. "The Healthcare Advocate is a free, appeal service under the office of Attorney General's office that helps families appeal and win rejections of legal healthcare claims. We recommend them all the time and our families always receive help. Their contact is: www.ct.gov/oha/site/default.asp"
Where can you go for help? And how do you find the 'right' help?
There are many wonderful private local mental health treatment providers. We do not keep a list as it is difficult for us to vet private providers. However, we can help you with how to find the right mental health support for you or your child. School counseling staff can help with referrals.
Need some support to find help? Contact WYS Director Laura Cleary, Lcleary@westonct.gov
Scrolll down for local non-profit counseling center information.
Helpful Information Sources- online and books:
The Child Mind Institute website has mental health and wellness topics A-Z . They also have a symptom checker tool, which cannot diagnose your child, but can help inform you about possible diagnoses and offer information and articles to help you learn more, and to facilitate a conversation with a professional.
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI CT is the state branch offering more local resources, including support groups.
Hey Sigmund is a blog that covers diverse mental health topics for adults and children.
Jones, McEvoy, Gangwish. Offers help figuring out what’s going on with your child’s behavioral, learning or mental health challenges; includes: a checklist system to help you find your starting point, avenues of support, common misdiagnoses, & which practitoners do what.
Area Counseling Centers
Kids in Crisis Stamford
YOUTH HOTLINE: (203) 661-1911
(203) 327-KIDS
Primary Treatment Areas: Emergency Shelter, Crisis Counseling
Services Offered:
Crisis and Intervention Counseling and Services
Short Term Counseling
Emergency Teen Shelter
Long Term Counseling
Family and Children’s Agency
(203) 855-8765 (Norwalk)
Primary Treatment Areas: Behavioral Health, Youth Development, Adoption Services
Services Offered:
Assessment
Individual and Group therapy for Children and Adults
Family Therapy
Medication Management
PEP/K.I.D.S. First: Mandated State programs for divorcing parents
Intensive In-home Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Services (IICAPS)
Mid-Fairfield Child Guidance
Sliding scale offered
(203) 299-1315 (Norwalk)
Primary Treatment Areas: Children’s Behavioral, Emotional and Psychiatric Difficulties
Services Offered:
Assessment and Evaluation
Outpatient Treatment
Individual Counseling
Family Counseling
Play Therapy
In-Home Services
Psychiatric Evaluation
Case Management
Specialized Treatment Programs
Positive Directions—The Center for Prevention and Recovery
(203) 227-7644
Sliding scale offered
Primary Areas: Individual and Family Counseling, substance Abuse, Problem Gambling
Services offered:
Prevention Programs,
Individual and Family Counseling,
Adolescent Evaluation Programs
Intervention Services
Koslow Center for Marriage and Family Therapy @Fairfield University, Fairfield.
(203) 254-4000 ext. 2306
Therapeutic services to individuals, couples and families.
Triangle Community Center
(203) 853-0600
Primary Treatment Area: LGBT Issues
Services Offered:
Support Groups for LGBT Teens:
Outspoken: support group for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth.
Support Groups for Parents and Families:
PFLAG (Parents and Families of Lesbians and Gays): Support for parents and
families of LBGT youth
Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education,
Stamford (203) 348-9346 Counseling and support services for victims of sexual assault.They also offer community education.
Domestic Violence Crisis Center
(203) 853-0418 (Norwalk)
Primary Treatment Area: Domestic Violence
Services Offered:
Individual Counseling (Bilingual)
Support Groups
Crisis Intervention
Legal Services
Short-term Shelter (SafeHouses)
Medical Advocacy
Prevention Education to the Community
SUPPORT GROUPS:
- Turning Point CT Mental health support, information, resources, and advocacy for CT teens and young adults
- Support Groups for parents concerned about teen or adult child's substance use AND for people sturggling with substance use: Full list on the WYS substance use resource tab Hint: It's not just about AA/NA anymore, there are lots of options.
- NAMI CT: Support groups for family and friends of people with mental health problems and people with mental illness: "NAMI Connecticut provides more than 40 FREE, confidential support groups across the state that are peer-led. They are facilitated by people who have experienced what you have/are experiencing." Find one that works for you.
Hospitals with Psychiatric Services Available to Children and Adolescents
Silver Hill Hospital
1-866-542-4455 (New Canaan)
Adolescent Program ages 13 to 17
Inpatient Treatment
Transitional Living
Family Support Services
Yale New Haven Hospital
(203) 688-4242 (Children)
(203) 688-9907 (Psychiatric) (New Haven)
Child and Adolescent In-Patient Programs
Child Partial Hospitalization Program
Child Recreational Therapy
Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program
Individual and Family Crisis Intervention and Counseling
Medication Management
Structured Group Therapy
Discharge and Transitional Planning
