Does DCF provide mental health services for children?
If you, your child, or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide:
- Call or text 988
- Chat at 988lifeline.org
In life-threatening situations, call 911.
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) helps children, youth, and their families with a range of mental health and substance use disorders. The services are provided in the home or community. We also recommend helpful online resources.
Reasons to have your child evaluated
Younger children:
- Have frequent tantrums or are irritable much of the time
- Often seem fearful or worried
- Complain about frequent stomachaches or headaches with no known medical cause
- Are in constant motion or can only sit still when they’re doing something they enjoy, such as watching videos or playing video games
- Sleep too much or too little, have a lot of nightmares, or seem sleepy during the day
- Are not interested in playing with other children or have difficulty making friends
- Start to struggle in school or get lower grades
Older children:
- Have lost interest in things they recently enjoyed
- Have low energy
- Sleep too much or too little or seem sleepy throughout the day
- Have periods of highly elevated energy and activity and require much less sleep than usual
- Spend more and more time alone and avoid friends or family
- Diet or exercise excessively or fear gaining weight
- Engage in self-harm behaviors (such as cutting or burning their skin)
- Smoke, drink, or use drugs
- Engage in risky or destructive behavior alone or with friends
- Have thoughts of suicide
Contact us to discuss your concerns
- Mary Cummins, MSW: 860-550-6478, Mary.Cummins@ct.gov
- Karen Mahoney, Ph.D.: 860-881-5839, Karen.Mahoney@ct.gov
- Bethany Zorba: 860-550-6539, Bethany.Zorba@ct.gov
Special care services
- Careline (available 24x7): Call 1-800-842-2288
- Mobile crisis services (available 24x7): Call 2-1-1
- Urgent crisis centers for children
- More mental health services (available 24x7): Call 2-1-1
Programs and resources
In you have any questions about Trauma or Trauma Informed Interventions, please contact: karen.mahoney@ct.gov
Common mental health challenges for children and teens:
Anxiety
All children experience anxiety. We help children when it harms relationships, school, activities, or other parts of their lives. Symptoms to look for include:
- Worry and/or cry more than other kids their age
- Say they don’t feel well
- Have trouble sleeping, have frequent nightmares, or are unable to sleep alone
- Find it hard to relax or sit still (restless)
- Anger easily
- Have a hard time focusing
- Say they aren’t hungry or that they’re hungry all the time
- Refuse to go to school
- Use the bathroom a lot
Depression
Children can and do suffer from depression. They can be helped with the right treatment. Outpatient clinics across Connecticut provide a range of therapies. Symptoms to look for include:
- Sad or bad mood
- Complain about themselves or have low self-esteem
- Don’t enjoy things they recently enjoyed
- Lack of energy and effort
- Sleep and eating changes
- Aches and pains when they aren’t sick or hurt
Disruptive behavior
Disruptive behaviors are a normal part of growing up: Children don’t always do what they are asked and they may have tantrums. We can help when these kinds of behaviors become dangerous or interfere with daily life. Disruptive behavior disorders you may have heard about include: