Here's where parents and families can get mental health help in Wisconsin (2024)

Young children rely on the adults in their lives to support them through their emotional struggles. And young children are also very affected by the mental health of those adults, notes Marshfield Clinic Health System pediatric psychologist Stephanie Kohlbeck — which is why it’s important for parents to get help of their own when they need it.

Here are some mental health resources for Wisconsin parents and families.

Crisis line and help line resources

As always, in the case of emergency, dial 911.

988 Suicide Crisis Lifeline: If you or a loved one is experiencing mental-health related distress, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to chat with a counselor trained in crisis intervention. For more on the Lifeline, visit bit.ly/about988. For more on how the Lifeline operates specifically in Wisconsin, visit bit.ly/Wisconsin988.

211 Wisconsin: To explore mental health resources available to you, or if you just want to talk, call 211. This line is not reserved only for mental health help; it also offers information about a number of resources, including housing, utility and food assistance.

Parents Helping Parents’ Parent Stress Line: This stress line is available 24/7 at 800-632-8188. Caregivers can call the line to speak to a trained volunteer counselor for free about concerns and questions related to raising children.The Parent Stress Line is a “warm line,” meaning it's not intended for emergencies. For more information, visit parentshelpingparents.org/stressline.

The Parenting Network’s Parent Helpline: This helpline, 414-671-0566, is available from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday for help with any parenting-related issue. The helpline is free. Visit theparentingnetwork.org for more information.

The Postpartum Support International Helpline: This helpline can be called or texted. Call 800-944-4773 (press 1 for Spanish, 2 for English). To text in English, text 800-944-4733. To text in Spanish, text 971-203-7773. Helpline volunteers can connect callers with resources, and offer general information or support, its website says. You can leave messages via phone call. This helpline is not a crisis hotline, meaning it does not handle emergencies.

Postpartum Support International also has over 50 free virtual support groups. There are groups specifically based on birthing experiences, groups for people of specific identities, some for fathers only, and more. To view a list of groups, visit bit.ly/PSIsupportgroups.

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale is often used to screen pregnant or postpartum individuals to determine whether they might be suffering from depression. It is available at stan.md/3wrFHVp.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness

The National Alliance on Mental Illness has several affiliates across Wisconsin. These organizations may offer support groups and other resources. To find your local NAMI, visit bit.ly/NAMIWisc.

Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health

The Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health, which promotes mental health of infants and young children, is behind The Power of Connection website. This site provides resources for building and strengthening the all-powerful relationship between parent or caregiver and young child. It also gives a comprehensive list of social-emotional milestones from birth to age 5. Visit the-power-of-connection.org.

Healthy Minds Healthy Children, a program of the Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health, is the state’s infant and early childhood mental health consultation program. To learn if it would be beneficial for your family, visit healthymindswi.org.

WI-AIMH also has a list of resources for families on its website, viewable at bit.ly/WIAIMHresourcelist.

Family resource centers and child care resource and referral agencies

In Wisconsin, family resource centers offer services, referrals, resources and more to support caregivers and their children from prenatal to early childhood. This can include mental health referrals, home visiting programs, parent/caregiver support groups, “warmlines” for parenting questions and more.

There are also child care resource and referral agencies, which focus on helping families find, secure and navigate child care, but may also assist families in other ways. Sometimes, FRCs and CCR&Rs jointly operate. To find your local FRC or CCR&R, visit bit.ly/wisfamilyresourcecenters.

Wisconsin Department of Health Services children's resource centers

Wisconsin’s children’s resource centers support families with children up to age 22 who have special health care needs. DHS’ website says these resource centers can also help foster parent-to-parent support. To learn more about Children’s Resource Centers and find one near you, visit bit.ly/WiscCRC.

Wisconsin Wayfinder

Wisconsin Wayfinder’s children’s resource guides can provide mental health information and support, and can connect families to mental health providers. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ website explains that if a child is not able to see a provider quickly, resource guides can help during the waiting period. Talk to a children’s resource guide representative via phone at 877-947-2929, or connect online via the form at bit.ly/ChildrensResourceGuides.

More: New service connects Wisconsin children, youth with specific health needs with resources

To find resources specifically in your area, visit findhelp.org. You can also contact your local health and human services.department.

Child-Parent Psychotherapy

Child-Parent Psychotherapy may also be a good resource for families with children up to age 5. Visit bit.ly/findCCP to find a provider near you.

Madison Lammert covers child care and early education across Wisconsin as a Report for America corps memberbased at The Appleton Post-Crescent.To contact her, emailmlammert@gannett.comor call 920-993-7108.Please consider supporting journalism that informs our democracy withatax-deductible gift to Report for Americaby visitingpostcrescent.com/RFA.

Contact Amy Schwabe at (262) 875-9488 oramy.schwabe@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at@WisFamilyJS, Instagram at@wisfamilyjsor Facebook atWisconsinFamily.