Your child said something disturbing, and you feel you should tell someone … You were disappointed when an opportunity didn’t turn out like you planned … Your toddler’s behavior leaves you drained and overwhelmed.

For situations like these and many others, Colorado Crisis Services (CCS) offers help. Launched in 2014 in partnership with the Colorado Department of Human Services, the goal of CCS is to strengthen Colorado’s mental health system and provide resources for Coloradans with emotional issues before a crisis occurs.

“The hardest part about getting help for mental health, substance abuse or emotional issues is knowing where to begin,” Colorado Department of Human Services Executive Director Reggie Bicha says. “The resources provided by Colorado Crisis Services not only strengthen Colorado’s mental-health system but increase access to Coloradans when they need it most.”

One of CCS’s offerings is a 24-hour, year- round hotline people can call for any reason. Depending on the caller’s issue, he or she is connected to a professional crisis counselor with a master’s or doctorate degree or a trained peer specialist who has overcome similar experiences. For parents in need of follow-up help, ‘the clinician may provide the parent with numerous resources for their child, whether it is for a behavioral concern, mental health issue or substance use,” says Bev Marquez, Chief Executive Officer of Rocky Mountain Crisis Partners, a provider of Colorado Crisis Services. “The parent could agree to have the clinician call back in a day or two to see if any of the resources worked out.” The number one reason people call the line is for anxiety concerns; number two is family stressors.

CCS also offers multiple walk-in locations at which community members can receive help. Upon arrival, “a staff person will ask the individual what brought them in, if they have any acute medical concerns if they are involved in any kind of treatment … as well as ask more in-depth questions about suicide risk,” says Marquez. When the assessment is complete, CCS professionals will make a recommendation for care. “This could range from an individual going home with a care plan for follow-up services, up to being placed on mental health hold and referred to an inpatient psychiatric facility.”

How Families Can Help

If you know someone who might need emotional support and doesn’t know where to begin, suggest they call CCS’s hotline for help. CCS does not offer volunteer opportunities at this time.