Mental Health Resources

Untreated or unresolved mental health issues in childhood can result in enduring consequences. We recognize that when parents, family members or the youth themselves first notice changes in behavior, it may be difficult to know what mental health services are available and where to find the services. We want parents, guardians, youth, and family members to know that you are not alone, there is hope, there is help, and you matter. The Mayor's Office of Education and Youth Engagement aims to assist parents, guardians, and youth with challenges related to mental health needs for children/youth (up to 24 year old) with the following:

• questions about rights,
• improving access and connection to services and benefits,
• ideas for making services better,
• general questions concerning services for persons with mental health needs.

The Next Day Project

The Mayor's Office of Education and Youth Engagement, in partnership with Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children Hospital, and Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute manages the Next Day Project, a SAMHSA-funded grant program awarded to the City of Houston. The Next Day Project offers access to mental health care to Houston-area youth ages 9-17 who have serious and persistent mental illness.

The grant additionally provides first level screening in several Houston-area public school districts and one charter district across the Houston area, as well as immediate tele-mental health crisis-care at select school campuses, connecting the children and their families with resources beyond the immediate crisis through the Texas State Child Mental Health Consortium. The Next Day Project coupled with the State Consortium has allowed for better coordination among services and an overall increase in available services – services that have been desperately needed. For more information about The Next Day Project, please visit the Next Day Project website.

Partners

Youth Mental Health Guide

Children and young people continue to face challenges to their mental health including rising rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide ideation. To address these issues, The Mayor’s Office of Education and Youth Engagement has developed a comprehensive guide. The City of Houston Youth Mental Health Guide is designed to empower youth to take care of their mental health and provide them with the tools to seek the support and resources they need. This guide is a significant step towards addressing the mental health needs of Houston’s young residents.

The City of Houston Youth Mental Health Guide aims to:

• Describe the steps necessary to take care of one's mental health.
• Equip youth with the language needed to seek mental health support.
• Foster an understanding of stigma, screening tools, adult allies, and best practices for overcoming common challenges in accessing mental health care.

To learn more about the guide, please visit the Youth Mental Health Guide page.

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