This article and video by Ken Houston appeared on WTNH.com.
Health experts are calling attention to mental health challenges affecting students as they head back to the classroom.
While some children anticipate the school years, others may struggle with episodes of anxiety and depression that could result in crises.
“We see about 60,000 kids in our emergency department,” Dr. Steven Rogers, a pediatric emergency medicine physician from Connecticut Children’s, said. “We screen universally at the age of 10.”
The Connecticut Children’s Youth Suicide Prevention Center is sounding an alarm, recognizing September as Suicide Prevention Month.
“We identify about 2,500 students or more every year who have risk of suicide,” Rogers said.
Health experts say many of these students are facing challenges ranging from changes in routine, struggles with learning, and peer and social interaction challenges. Many of these children end up in emergency rooms.
“They are often overcrowded and not the best environment for a person in distress,” Shantelle Varrs from the Department of Developmental Services said.
The Urgent Crises Center is an alternative location in these situations. Officials say they’re accustomed to working with children who have active thoughts of suicide.
“We are accustomed to working with kids who are actively disregulated and need to have some supportive help,” Dr. Laine Taylor from The Village said. “We are set up to be a calming space for those kids who are disregulated.”
Lisa Paradis knows this struggle all too well, as her daughter lives with developmental delays and other special needs.
“Unfortunately, when she becomes overwhelmed, she becomes violent,” Paradis said. “She can have very violent outbreaks.”
In their case, this required outside resources separate from emergency room attention. Lisa’s family learned about the Urgent Crises Center and now calls it a “safe haven.”
“By coming here, we were about to get referrals that we needed; not only did we get these referrals, there were follow-up calls,” Paradis said.
According to Paradis, the Crisis Center offers more one-on-one attention. In her experience, not only was her child supported, but so was her entire family.
The Village is located at 1680 Albany Avenue, Hartford, and can be contacted at (860) 236-4511.
The closest Urgent Crisis Center to you can be found here, with locations in Hartford, Waterbury and New London.