A non-profit organization based in Tennessee, Youth Villages, has reported a significant increase in calls to its crisis hotline from families seeking help for children in the midst of a mental health crisis. Over the past five years, they have observed a 33% rise in calls statewide, highlighting the growing demand for mental health support for kids.
To address this pressing issue, Youth Villages has emphasized the importance of programs like their Intercept program. This program offers intensive in-home treatment for children and adolescents grappling with various mental health challenges, such as anger, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
A former client, Kristen Ogle, shared her experience with the Intercept program, stating that it had a transformative effect on her family’s life. She explained, “My house was in shambles. I felt hopeless. My son was out of control. He was getting kicked off the bus. He was getting kicked out of school. He was just on a bad path.”
The Intercept program assigns a family intervention specialist, like Dakota Sullivan, to work with the child and family. These specialists meet with children both at home and at school to help them deal with their emotional struggles. Sullivan noted the significance of providing this support within the home environment, saying that it encourages children to open up and communicate.
Notably, the Ogle family resides in Humphreys County, an area in Tennessee where there is a severe shortage of child psychiatrists. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, many rural Middle Tennessee counties, like Humphreys, do not have any child psychiatrists. As a result, the need for accessible mental health programs and professionals in the field has been growing.
Allison Parker, Regional Supervisor for Youth Villages, acknowledged the growing demand and emphasized the need for more programs and professionals to address the unique needs of families and children.
The Ogle family successfully completed the several-month-long Intercept program, and Kristen Ogle now shares their experience in the hope that other families will also take the first step towards seeking help and support.
Families seeking assistance can contact Youth Villages’ crisis hotline to receive an assessment and evaluation for the services they need.
This increase in requests for youth mental health support highlights the importance of accessible mental health services and the need for additional resources and programs to address the mental health crisis among children.
