UT Health opens free mental health program to S.A. kids

UT Health San Antonio is taking a crucial step forward in an attempt to address a growing mental health crisis among children and adolescents triggered by prolonged isolation, uncertainty and grief during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The problem ballooned to emergency proportions in late October when the nation’s leading experts in pediatric health declared it a national emergency.

UT Health is attempting to address the problem by enrolling 3,000 children and teens, ages 1117, into a free online mental health

program.

Dubbed Project YES, the program is open through Dec. 31 and available to San Antonio residents in both English and Spanish. The three-month program includes helping youths find healthy coping mechanisms for a myriad of mental health issues.

The national mental health emergency declaration was penned by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Children’s Hospital Association and the America Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The letter released by the group says rates of childhood mental health concerns had been steadily rising in the last decade. The pandemic, as well as racial inequality, has exacerbated the issue, they said.

The group pointed to data showing that by 2018, suicide was the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 10 and 24.

Teenage girls are particularly at risk, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. From February to March of this year, emergency department visits for suspected suicide attempts were up 51 percent for girls ages 12 to 17, compared with the same period in 2019, according to CDC data.

How to enroll

UT Health said it has helped 200 youths through Project YES. Those who participated saw a substantial decrease in feelings of hopelessness and self-hate.

To enroll, visit utteenhealth.org or call 210-567-7036.

Other services

There are a myriad of free or inexpensive mental health services listed on the Bexar County Department of Behavioral Health website. Below are just a few options.

The Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas offers grief counseling and support for families affected by a loss. The service is free and you can register by calling 210-736-4847 or visiting cbcst.org.

Community Bible Church has a free online support group from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays. Call 210237-4942 for more information.

There are also a number of free apps available, including Woebot, a free therapeutic chatbot that promises to “automate both the process and content of therapy,” according to the company’s website.

Unlike other virtual therapy companies such as Betterhelp or Talkspace, which recruit therapists to join their platform, Woebot uses artificial intelligence.

Woebot is designed for adolescents 12-21 years who are experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety. There are other versions of the app designed for adult mental health, maternal mental health and substance abuse.