Youth and Mental Health Resources
Mass General Brigham Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinics
- Mass General Hospital 617-724-5600 (MGH affiliated pediatrician)
- Newton-Wellesley Hospital (NWH catchment area or affiliated Pediatrician) 617-243-6328
- McLean Hospital 617-674-5310
- Salem Hospital 978-745-2100
Your insurance company, your child’s pediatrician, school counselor, and school nurse may be able to provide a list of recommended therapists/psychiatrists. We know that finding mental health treatment for your child can be a daunting task. Treatment is available, but it sometimes takes dozens of calls (or more) to find the right help. We have compiled this list of resources to help aid your journey. If you are not sure what kind of treatment your child needs, you can call our social work team at 617-243-6328 for guidance.
Immediate support
Whether you are in crisis, feeling lonely, or just need someone to talk to, these are great options for youth to access immediate support:
- Massachusetts Behavioral Health Helpline: 24/7 insurance-blind entry point for Mass residents in search of mental health and substance use disorder treatment. Call to access your local mental health crisis team and for referrals for outpatient treatment. Call or Text 833-773-2445 and online chat at masshelpline.com.
- 988 – National Crisis Hotline – Call, Text or Chat 988 for free 24/7 confidential crisis intervention, support, and local connections to care and treatment.
- “Hey Sam” – Text 1-877-832-0890 9am-9pm for peer-to-peer (for teens up to age 24, staffed by trained teens)
- The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 1-800-273-TALK
- Crisis Text Line – text “help” to 741-741
- Trevor Project Support line. Call 866-488-7386, text START to 678-678
**If you or someone you know is in immediate danger of harming themselves or others:
- Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
- Call Mobile Crisis Intervention (MCI) 877-382-1609 and enter zip code to reach a local mental health crisis team.
Reliable Information about Mental Health
- Mental Health Webinars at McLean Hospital
- Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds
- NAMI: Kids, Teens and Young Adults | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness
- Cole Resource Center
- Behavioral Health Resources | Salem Hospital
- Child Mind Institute Transforming Children’s Lives
- Facts For Families aacap.org
- Federation for Children with Special Needs
- Provides information and support to parents of children with disabilities, including mental health issues. This site can be helpful for parents looking for educational advocate to help them work with the school system to get services for their child.
- Division for Children & Youth with Special Health Needs | Mass.gov
- For families with children ages birth to 22 with chronic medical, physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional needs.
Treatment referral services
- Mass211 – Massachusetts Behavioral Health Access Line, Call 211 to talk with a trained specialist who will listen to your concerns and help you find the resources you need.
- Network of Care Massachusetts Find Services and Resources in the State of Massachusetts, Massachusetts
- Project Interface Therapy Referral Service
- Psychology Today
- Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality
- Fenway Health
- Child Trauma Training Center call 1-855-LINK-KID for trauma-focused care for children and teens
Substance Use Services
- Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline
- Boston Children’s ASAP Program 617-355-2727 (children and teens)
- MGH ARMS Program 617-643-4699 (older teens and young adults)
- BMC CATALYST Program 617-414-6655 (children and teens)
- Copernican Solutions
Nicotine Specific:
- https://teen.smokefree.gov/
- http://makesmokinghistory.org/
- https://the84.org/
- MA teens against tobacco
- www.thetruth.com