
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 34% of Texas high school students (Grades 9th - 12th) have depression symptoms, compared to 31% in the United States. Moreover, 34% of students (Grades 9th-12th) in Texas reported that they felt sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more in a row so that they stopped doing some usual activities.
One in 3 children ages 6–17 in our eight-county service area has a diagnosed mental health need. This represents an estimated 267,730 school-age children, and the rate in our eight-county service area is higher than state and national rates:1
- 31%: 8 county service area, 2021
- 23%: State of Texas, 2019
- 23%: U.S., 2019
Nearly 7 in 10 children have a caregiver who is not very familiar with mental health services in the community.1 Of the 252,000 school-age children who needed mental health treatment or counseling, 45% have a caregiver who experienced difficulty getting this care while 6% were unable to get needed care. Barriers to care included the pandemic, cost of care, inadequate insurance, scheduling conflicts and limited service availability in their areas.1
If you are experiencing a life threatening emergency, please call 911.
To access any of Cook Children's services, contact our Intake Department at (682) 885-3917.
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call, text or chat: 988 | visit 988lifeline.org
If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out. People you can talk to might include: mental health provider, school counselor, church or clergy member, physician, or an adult you trust (coach, teacher, neighbor, parent).
Events and education
4 hours (Virtual - Zoom)
Learning objectives include: identify at least 3 stakeholders involved in the Denton County Protocol for Care Coordination of CSEY victims; gain understanding of the CSE-IT tool and training and how it is used to identify victims and refer for services; recognize signs of complex traumas and appropriate interventions; identify risk factors for male victims of sex trafficking; recognize the impact of victimization on CSEY victims. Target audience: professionals
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4 hours (Virtual - Zoom)
Learning objectives include: recognize at least 3 ways a co-occurrence of mental health illness and a substance use disorder can impact the type of interventions provided to children and families; and describe at least 3 strategies parents & professionals can use to help children who have parents with a substance use disorder. Target audience: professionals
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3 hours (Virtual - Zoom)
Learning objectives include: explain the benefits, pitfalls, and dangers of the increased utilization of the internet; describe at least three coping skills community members can use to respond to the stresses of COVID-19; and describe how mindfulness can be utilized practically to reduce stress. Target audience: professionals
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1Community-wide Children’s Health Assessment and Planning Survey (CCHAPS) (2021). Cook Children’s Health Care System. Fort Worth, Texas.