Mental & Behavioral Health Resources for School Partners
Resources are available to support education professionals in addressing the mental and behavioral health needs of students and youth. Explore the supports available to you and contact us with any questions you may have.
Empowering Educators to Support Youth
Whether through training opportunities or free mental and behavioral health resources, the Adams County Health Department aims to connect all with the support they need.
Need Immediate Support? Help is Available Now.
The 988 Colorado Mental Health Line is available in many languages for free, immediate, human support 24/7. If you or someone you know is struggling with an emotional, mental health, or substance use concern, call or text 988, or live chat online.
Trainings Hosted by ACHD
The Adams County Health Department (ACHD) offers Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) and Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention training sessions led by certified instructors. These trainings help trusted adults recognize signs and symptoms of mental health challenges in youth and people in their lives. Both trainings are designed for school staff and parents/caregivers, with no professional background required. For those interested in either training opportunity, contact BehavioralHealth@adamscountyco.gov.
The Project Connects Harm Reduction team also offers training on how to respond to substance overdoses and how to use Naloxone to save lives. Contact ProjectConnects@adamscountyco.gov if interested.
QPR is a general suicide prevention training. Participants will learn myths and facts about suicide, the signs and symptoms of someone who may be considering suicide, and how to ask the question. This training course is approximately 60-90 minutes and is available either in person or via Zoom. In-person training is limited to 30 participants, and online training is limited to 25 participants.
Course Description
QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Similar to how CPR is an emergency medical intervention to help connect individuals in crisis to appropriate medical care, QPR is an emergency mental health intervention for suicidal persons with the intention of assisting bystanders to identify and interrupt the crisis and direct that person to the proper support.
QPR teaches adults how to identify known warning signs of suicidal ideation and crisis, instructs participants on how to respond, and provides resources to connect individuals in need to additional resources and support.
This course is open to everyone, regardless of background or experience. The only requisite for being certified in QPR is that you are an individual who wants to do your part to keep your colleagues, friends, family, neighbors, and community members safe.
After completing Question, Persuade, Refer, participants will be able to:
- Recognize signs and risk factors related to suicide.
- Apply the three-step QPR action plan to appropriately ask someone at risk if they are thinking about dying by suicide and what to do if the answer is yes.
- Understand ways of connecting individuals in crisis to appropriate professional help.
- Connect participants with appropriate professional and community resources for ongoing support.
- Reduce stigma and promote open, supportive conversations about mental well-being.
The course runs for 60 – 90 minutes and includes time for questions and answers at the end. It consists of a brief pre-test and post-test to assess shifts in knowledge and attitudes. Upon successful completion of the course, participants will earn a QPR certificate, which will be emailed to them within 3 business days of course completion.
Courses are currently taught in English. Sign-language interpretation is available upon request.
YMHFA is a skills-building course that teaches trusted adults the signs and symptoms of a youth who may be experiencing mental health or substance use challenges and how to respond and help the youth through a five-step action plan. This course is available in-person. There is required pre-work that takes about 1-2 hours. The in-person training is approximately eight hours and includes lunch. The capacity is 30 participants.
Course Description
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) teaches adults how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adolescents ages 12–18. This evidence-based training is designed for parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, neighbors, health and human services professionals, and any caring adult who regularly interacts with young people.
The course introduces common mental health challenges facing youth, explores typical adolescent development, and teaches a practical five-step action plan for providing support to a young person who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use concern, whether in crisis or non-crisis situations. Topics include anxiety, depression, substance use, psychosis, disruptive behavior disorders (including ADHD), and eating disorders.
Youth Mental Health First Aid is open to all community members, regardless of background or experience. Mental Health First Aiders are teachers, parents, coaches, mentors, first responders, and friends; anyone who wants to help young people feel seen, supported, and understood.
After completing Youth Mental Health First Aid, participants will be able to:
- Understand common mental health challenges faced by youth and how they may present.
- Recognize signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use concerns in adolescents.
- Reduce stigma and promote open, supportive conversations about mental well-being.
- Apply the five-step MHFA action plan to assist a young person experiencing a mental health or substance use concern or crisis, including situations involving suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
- Connect youth and families with appropriate professional and community resources for ongoing support.
The Adams County Health Department offers YMHFA in a blended learning format. Participants complete 1–2 hours of self-paced online pre-work through the MHFA Connect platform, followed by an 8-hour, in-person session featuring interactive discussions, videos, and group activities. Upon successful completion of all course components and the online post-test, participants earn certification as a Youth Mental Health First Aider.
This course is currently available in English with plans to offer it in Spanish in the future. Sign-language interpretation is available upon request.
The Adams County Health Department’s Project Connects: Harm Reduction team provides Naloxone to the community at no cost. Naloxone is an opioid antidote capable of reversing overdoses. Project Connects offers one-on-one or group training to anyone interested in learning about preventing and responding to an opioid overdose. Schedule an overdose prevention and response training or learn how to use Naloxone through Project Connects’ educational videos, available in English and Spanish.
Upcoming Trainings
Mental Health First Aid Training
Trainings from Children’s Hospital Colorado
Partners in Children’s Mental Health (PCMH) at Children’s Hospital Colorado offers a variety of youth-centered resources for parents and schools, including Parent Workshops on Youth Mental Health.
Trainings include topics such as supporting youth through stress and anxiety, fostering wellbeing and connection between caregivers and children, planning how to discuss mental health at home, addressing life transitions, navigating mental health resources, and exploring the relationship between social media and mental health. Each training is approximately one hour in length and includes time for participant questions and discussion. PCMH staff can facilitate these trainings either in person or virtually to meet the needs of participants.
For anyone interested in these training topics, please contact Children’s Hospital of Colorado by emailing pmhi_community@childrenscolorado.org.
Additional Training Opportunities
The Office of School Safety offers ongoing training sessions throughout the year, featuring presentations by top experts, and many are free to attend. Training sessions that are not free are low-cost, and the funds are used solely to cover the costs of the venue and catering. To join an upcoming training, review the training calendar.
The School Safety Resource Center employs full-time trainers in a wide range of physical and psychological school safety topics, including threat and suicide assessment, child abuse prevention, bullying prevention, cyber safety, and other topics upon request. Training can be arranged statewide, either in person or online. The Regional Training Consultants operate in all four corners of Colorado, from the metropolis of Denver to the most remote parts of the state. Training is available on request.
The Colorado Office of School Safety and the Centers for Health, Work, and Environment at the CU Anschutz School of Public Health have developed a new training program based on extensive research into school emergency preparedness. Their findings revealed a significant gap: school emergency plans are often created at the district level with minimal input from teachers and staff.
As a result, many school personnel feel unprepared, anxious, and uncertain about the plans, which leads to disengagement during emergency drills and a lack of confidence in their ability to respond effectively when needed. This comprehensive training, provided by the OSS, is designed to address these challenges by empowering school staff to take an active role in emergency preparedness. It contains four modules that can be broken into multiple time frames to meet the school/district’s needs. The program fosters leadership, builds confidence, and provides the tools and knowledge needed to ensure that drills and safety measures are both practical and impactful.
Training is available on request. They are available on-site at school, in a hybrid format, or virtually. There is no cost associated with the training.
The Colorado School Mental Health Community of Practice brings together school mental health champions across Colorado to engage in community building and shared learning, advancing school mental health. This is achieved through a commitment to utilizing both best practices and innovative approaches to best support the wellbeing of students and school staff.
Sessions are held monthly and provide an opportunity for school mental health professionals to connect through discussion, brainstorming, information sharing, and mutual support. All session recordings, slides, and relevant resources will be posted in the “Topic” section of this community for reference and use. Join the Community of Practice.
Colorado’s Behavioral Health Administration and the Kempe Center offer a toolkit of training, resources, and support. This program is designed to strengthen students’ and educators’ mental wellness, with a focus on grades 6 through 12 in rural and underserved schools. Schools gain support to build sustainable, trauma-informed mental health systems aligned with Colorado Department of Education framework.
Free Mental Health Supports for Youth
988 Mental Health Line for Youth
988 Colorado has launched a new webpage specifically to connect young people with mental health supports. For those feeling overwhelmed, anxious, down, or just needing someone to talk to, trained care specialists are ready to offer support. Texting and live chat are also available! All support is confidential and available 24/7 and 365 days of the year.
I Matter
I Matter connects children 18 and younger (and young adults 21 and under receiving special education services) with a licensed therapist for up to six free counseling sessions. No insurance or credit card information is required. Sessions are available in person or virtual. Children 11 and younger must have a parent or guardian complete the interest form. Signing up takes less than 15 minutes!
Second Wind Fund
Covers the cost of therapy for youth up to 19 years old if they are at risk of suicide and/or face a financial or social challenge to accessing mental health treatment. Families not facing these challenges can also be connected with a provider.
Youth who have been seeing a provider through the I Matter program often can continue support through the Second Wind Fund.
The Trevor Project
Provides support for LGBTQ+ youth under the age of 25 through a 24-hour phone and texting service with counselors. Call 1.888.488.7386 or text “START” to 678-678.
Mental Health America
Provides tools designed to help young people build resilience and feel empowered, as well as to equip adult allies (parents, mentors, educators, caregivers) with practical strategies to support youth mental health and advocacy. It includes worksheets, printables, classroom activities, and graphics, all to create spaces where young people feel seen, heard, and valued.
Judi's House (JAG Institute)
Provides care to grieving children and families while being thoughtful in approach to expanding reach through training, education, and research. Judi’s House offers school and community organization services, including school-based grief support groups for students, staff, and caregivers, all free of charge in the Denver metro area.
Mental Health Supports for All Ages
The 988 Colorado Mental Health Line provides free, immediate, human support 24/7. Anyone experiencing emotional distress, mental health concerns, or substance use challenges can call, text, or live chat with 988 for assistance. Support is available in English and Spanish, as well as in hundreds of additional languages through the Language Line.
The OwnPath Care Directory helps connect people in Colorado to affordable mental health, substance use, and crisis care, including in the Colorado LIFTS network. Anyone in Colorado – no matter where they live in the state or whether they have insurance – can visit ownpath.co to connect with live care navigation support to begin or continue their journey to whole person health.
How it works:
- Enter your zip code.
- Talk to a navigator or search online.
- Get connected to care.
Aurora Mental Health and Recovery is a nonprofit Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic offering services to address a wide range of mental health conditions. Physicians, nurses, psychologists, therapists, and peers work with patients of all ages, from children to seniors. Call 303.923.6500 for support at any time.
24/7 walk-in services are available at the Potomac Pavilion, located at 1290 S. Potomac St., Aurora. The Potomac Pavilion serves as a comprehensive, around-the-clock access point for mental health and substance use care. The Potomac Pavilion offers immediate walk-in services, substance use intervention and withdrawal management (detox), a crisis stabilization unit, and same-day outpatient service options.
Community Reach Center (CRC) is a nonprofit mental health provider serving Adams County and surrounding communities. The center provides personalized behavioral health services for children, adults, and families. People can access therapy, care management, peer support, and more in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Anyone interested in services can visit CRC’s get-started page to learn more.
CRC also provides walk-in crisis services at the Walk-In Crisis and Resource Center located at 8989 Huron St., Thornton. The walk-in center is open 24/7. Call 303.853.3800 to learn more.
Signal Behavioral Health Network manages Colorado LIFTS (Linking Individuals and Families to Services) for Adams County, a new way to connect people with mental health, substance use, and crisis support. It’s a statewide network that helps people get care – especially those who don’t have insurance or don’t have enough coverage.
Signal’s Care Access Team helps individuals connect to behavioral healthcare and provides compassionate, judgment-free guidance. The team works collaboratively with individuals to identify resources available within their communities. The Care Access Team is available Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., by phone at 888.607.4462 or by email at findcare@signalbhn.org. The team may also be contacted through the online contact form.
Data and Reports
Mental Health Data Site
Substance Use Data Site
Behavioral Health Assessment (Executive Summary)
Behavioral Health Assessment (English)
Behavioral Health Assessment (Spanish)
Contact the Mental & Behavioral Health Team
Experiencing an emergency? Call 988 or 911 for immediate help.