Every family experiences challenges at times, and you don't have to figure everything out alone. If you are unsure where to start, please contact your school counselor. We can help you identify school-based supports and connect you with appropriate community resources. For help finding local health and human services, Berks County 2-1-1 provides free, 24/7 information and referral services.
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PLEASE NOTE: If a child is in a crisis – such as having suicidal thoughts, anxiety attacks, drug or alcohol abuse or any number of pressing mental health issues – you should do at least one of the following:
Call Holcomb Crisis Intervention of Berks County 24/7 DEDICATED CRISIS LINE 610-379-2007 or 1-888-219-3910
Call 911
Call 988 - The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Text 4Hope to 741-741
Or go to your local hospital emergency room immediately.Also, please consider letting your child’s school counselor know of any crisis situations.
Mental Health & Emotional Wellness
Mental Health & Emotional Wellness
Pennsylvania Department of Education – Mental Health Resources — Resources for schools, families, and students addressing mental health, social-emotional learning, coping skills, and student wellness. PA Department of Education – Mental Health Resources
Berks County Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities — County information and connections to mental health and developmental disability services.
Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP) — Helps children, adolescents, and families coordinate services across mental health, education, child welfare, and other systems. Berks County CASSP
Berks Counseling Center — Behavioral health, wellness, recovery, case management, and support services. Berks Counseling Center
Kids Peace- Walk in Assesments
Mental Health Crisis Hotlines:
Holcomb Crisis Intervention of Berks County 24/7 DEDICATED CRISIS LINE 610-379-2007 or 1-888-219-3910 or 911
Nami Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI or TEXT “NAMI to 741741
Crisis Text Line-Text HOME to 741741
Teen line-Text Teen to 839863
Trevor Project (LGBTQ)-1-866-488-7386, or text START to 678678
Reading Hospital 24/7 Addiction Hotline-484-628-4673
Substance-Use Prevention & Healthy Choices
Substance-Use Prevention & Healthy Choices
Council on Chemical Abuse (COCA) — Berks County prevention education and youth programming addressing substance use, vaping/nicotine, mental wellness, and other risk factors. Council on Chemical Abuse
CARON- Caron Wyomissing offers outpatient treatment for substance use and mental health conditions, with therapies tailored to each person’s unique needs. We provide specialized programs for adults, teens, and families, including trauma-focused care, recovery support and services for gambling addiction and co-occurring disorders.
Student Assistance Program (SAP)-
Wilson’s Student Assistance Program is a program designed to remove barriers to students’ learning and success in and outside of school! The program assists students who may be dealing with mental health issues, drug and alcohol problems, family issues, low self-esteem, disciplinary problems, and many other obstacles students face. We offer support in school through various avenues and work with the student and their family to assist in finding solutions to problems that exist for the student. Wilson’s Student Assistance Program offers a free, confidential, comprehensive assessment through the Caron Foundation to parents who may be concerned about their child. We also offer referral services to parents and students who are struggling with issues that require more than the school can provide.
Referrals to the Student Assistance Program
Students can be referred to the Student Assistance Program by anyone, and the referral is confidential. Students are referred by parents, teachers, administrators, other students, and themselves. They are referred due to reasons including a drop in grades, change in appearance, loss of interest in activities, disciplinary issues, talk of drug and alcohol use, depressed mood, uncontrolled anger, and other concerns that someone may have about a student. Referrals to the Student Assistance Program are confidential, which means that a student will not find out who referred them to the program. Our Student Assistance teams also respect the confidentiality of the program and do not discuss anything related to the program to faculty members, not on the team.
What Happens Next
Several things can happen after a student is referred to the Student Assistance Program. The Student Assistance Coordinator or Guidance Counselor may talk to the student, to see if that student is struggling with any issues. The team may decide to send out behavior observation forms to the student’s teachers to see if they are noticing any concerns with the student. Parents of the student may be contacted to obtain their feedback and to also offer an assessment of the student or other resources. If an issue is identified, the team will problem solve with the student’s parents on what would be the best course of action to assist the student.
Parent Education and Support Services
Access on-demand virtual courses, professional support, and a safe community for parents to learn how to support their children and get answers to mental health questions. There are courses on anxiety, depression, self-worth, grief and loss, suicidal ideation and other mental health concerns. All courses are created by therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists and other certified mental health practitioners. There is even a portal where you can “Ask a Therapist” your tough questions, as well as see questions and answers from other parents.
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