Mental health resource website launched

The COVID-19 pandemic has shined a bright light on the need for mental health services.

Particularly among youth, mental health challenges have been on the rise for several years, with the pandemic only worsening the issue. The Berks County Intermediate Unit is looking to make sure school-age kids who need help can find it.

The BCIU has launched a mental health resource website that provides key resources and information for administrators, school mental health workers, parents and students.

The site can be found at berksiu.org/bcmentalhealth.

The site was created in response to meetings with school officials, county agencies and community mental health service providers. Those meetings showed that many students, school staff and parents were unaware of the mental health resource available to them in Berks.

The new website aims to fix that. It includes:

• Contacts for local hotlines and emergency supports.

• Information organized by mental health disorder.

• Contact for counseling and other services in Berks.

• Resources specific to administrators, school mental health workers, parents and students.

• Other important contact information.

“Although national resources are very important, having local resources in one location is key to ensuring families, schools, and community members can get the help they need,” Dr. Sara George, assistant director of the BCIU’s Office of Early Childhood and Student Services, said in an announcement. “Families are much more comfortable reaching out for help when they have one place to go and know that help is available in the immediate local area.”