We’re living through a crisis in child and family mental health. Unfortunately, many families in the US struggle to access high-quality care, or support when they need it most. In fact, even though children are diagnosed with mental health challenges at the same rate as adults, around 80% of children don’t get any mental health care at all. Fortunately, resources for child and family mental health exist.

That’s why we’ve gathered a big list of resources for child mental health and family wellness. 

Hopefully, these child mental health family resources can provide some support for your family as you continue on your mental health journey.

Please be aware that, if anyone in your family is in crisis, call 911, go to the nearest emergency room, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach a 24-hour crisis center, or text 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.

Federal Resources

Here are some of the best federal resources dedicated to child and family mental health.

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

  • Chat with Lifeline

  • For Spanish speakers:

    • Call 1-888-628-9454

    • Visit Ayuda en Español: Lifeline

• 24/7 Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

• National Institute of Mental Health

  • Teen Depression

  • Guidance on Coping with COVID-19

• National Child Traumatic Stress Network

• SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) Disaster Distress Helpline: Call 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746

• Anxiety and Depression Association of America

• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

• Mental Health America

• National Alliance on Mental Illness

Your state may also have agencies or bureaus dedicated to supporting child and family mental health.

Our Free Online Assessments & Resources

Here are a few online assessments to help you understand your child’s mental health:

• Free Temper Tantrum Assessment: Learn When to Worry about Your Child’s Temper Tantrums

• School Mental Health Toolkit: A digital assessment and survival guide to help families and children going to school.

• Holiday Family Mental Health Toolkit: A digital assessment and survival guide to help families and children navigate the holiday season.

• Ask a Child Psychologist Online: A unique channel where you can ask a child mental health professional your questions, online and for free.

• 8 Types of Mental Health Professionals for Children: A simple one-pager that explains the different types of mental health professionals that work with kids and families.

• White Paper - The Promise of Online Therapy for Children: Learn whether online therapy really works for children and families.

• Little Otter’s Weekly Blog: In-depth articles about common concerns so you can learn when to worry, and where to get support.

Books

There are tons of incredible books to help families and children learn how to navigate difficult situations. We’ve compiled a list of excellent books, organized by “worry domain”:

COVID-19

• “Trinka and Sam Fighting the Big Virus: Trinka, Sam, and Littletown Work Together” by The National Child Traumatic Stress Network

Gender & Sexual Identity

• “And Tango Makes Three” by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

• “All Kinds of Families” by Suzanne Lang

• “Who's in a Family” by Robert Skutch

• “Julian is a Mermaid” by Jessica Love

Expressing & Regulating Emotions

• “How to Behave and Why” by Munro Leaf

• “How to Speak Politely and Why” by Munro Leaf

• “The Color Monster: A Story about Emotions” by Anna Llenas

• “The Way I Feel” by Janan Cain

• “In My Heart: A Book of Feelings” by Jo Witek

• “All About Feelings” by Felicity Brooks

• “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats

Worries & Anxiety

• “Wemberly Worried” by Kevin Henkes

Sleeping & Bedtime Tantrums

• “The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep” by Carl-Johan Forssén Ehrlin

• “The Little Elephant Who Wants to Fall Asleep” by Carl-Johan Forssén Ehrlin

• “Your Own Big Bed” by Rita Bergstein

Caregiver Separation & Divorce

• “Emily’s Blue Period” by Cathleen Daly

• “The Invisible String” by Patrice Karst

• “Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You” by Nancy Tillman

Parenting & Caregiver Mental Health

• “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel Van Der Kolk

• “Parenting from the Inside Out” by Daniel J. Siegel, MD, and Mary Hartzell, M. Ed.

Confidence & Self-Esteem

• “Giraffe Asks for Help” by Nyasha M. Chikowore

Toys & Games

• Emotional Bingo: A bingo game to teach children about emotions

• Little Renegades: Mindfulness cards and journals for kids

• Slumberkins: Books and creature characters that encourage emotional growth 

• Lovevery: Kits of development-appropriate, sustainable toys and books

• The Grump Meter: A low-tech guide to expressing emotions 

We hope that you find this list of resources for family and child mental health useful! 

If we missed any, feel free to let us know by sending a note to hello@littleotterhealth.com. 

At Little Otter, we’re proud to support the mental health and wellness of kids and their families. When you’re ready, you can learn more about our approach to care here.