Chatham County, NC
Home MenuYouth Mental Health
This page includes who to call in a mental health crisis, ways to teach or talk about youth mental health, and more resources both here in Chatham County and beyond for both mental health crises and ways to improve your mental health.
The number of youth experiencing symptoms of depression and considering attempting suicide is increasing. Based on results from the national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys, the percentage of American high school students reporting experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year have risen drastically in the last 10 years. In Chatham County in 2019, 36.1% of high school students reported experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year, and 16.8% of Chatham high schoolers said they had considered attempting suicide in the last 12 months -- further data can be found in the 2021 Chatham County Community Assessment.
If you have questions about youth mental health resources in Chatham County, please reach out to Tia Brown, Youth Health and Tobacco Initiatives Lead, at tia.brown@chathamcountync.gov.
Who to Call in a Mental Health Crisis
| ENTITY | NAME | CONTACT | SERVICES |
|
|
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline | Call or text "988" |
Lifeline Chat and Text is a service of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline), connecting individuals with crisis counselors for emotional support and other services via web chat or texting 988. |
|
|
Crisis Text Line | Text HOME to 741741 |
Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime. Crisis Text Line is here for any crisis. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from our secure online platform. The volunteer Crisis Counselor will help you move from a hot moment to a cool moment. |
|
|
Monarch Mobile Crisis | Call 800-568-7235 |
Monarch provides services for those who are experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis and are in immediate need of the proper care. |
|
|
Vaya Health | Call 800-849-6127 |
Vaya Health is Chatham County's managed care organization that provides connection to care for mental health and substance use. |
| |
The Trevor Project 24/7 Crisis Line for LGBTQ+ Youth | Call 1-866-488-7386 or Text 'START' to 678678 |
The Trevor Project's hotline can connect LGBTQ+ youth to a crisis counselor 24/7, 365 days a year, from anywhere in the U.S. It is 100% confidential, and 100% free. |
Find mental health help near you
Looking for ways to teach or talk about youth mental health?
- More Than Sad: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention -- More Than Sad has taught over a million students and educators how to be smarter about mental health. This program includes two films, one for students and one for parents, and a program for teachers to educate communities about the signs of depression in young people and ways to help.
- The Trevor Project -- The Trevor Project provides 24/7 trained counseling and support for LGBTQ+ youth, who studies and surveys have shown to be much more at risk for mental health issues and suicidal ideation than their peers. The organization's website also provides many resources for LGBTQ+ youth related to their mental health and well-being.
- Welcoming Schools -- Supported by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, Welcoming Schools is the most comprehensive bias-based bullying prevention program in the nation to provide LGBTQ+ and gender inclusive professional development training, lesson plans, booklists and resources specifically designed for educators and youth-serving professionals.
- Youth Mental Health First Aid -- This program organized by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people.
- Mental Health & High School Curriculum Guide -- The Guide has been developed to help enhance the mental health literacy of students and targeted to be used in grades nine and ten (ages 13 to 15 years). This resource comes with access to web based lesson plans and teaching resources.