Mental Health
If you fear for your child's immediate safety and mental health, call 911.
Preventing Suicide
What Families Need to Know
Rates of suicide among youth aged 10 - 24 years old have been increasing rapidly and represent the second leading cause of death among this population. Educating ourselves can be another prevention to help keep our youth safe. After viewing this video, please explore the additional resources available on this topic.
A child's mental health is a critical factor in their school success. Mental health issues of all varieties and of all levels of seriousness raise concern in parents and guardians and are often the most difficult challenges to address. The videos and resources in this section are intended to introduce important information and, most importantly, share resources for additional answers and support.
If you are concerned about your student's immediate safety and wellbeing, please use one of the following resources. For school services, contact your child's school. For more resources, visit the site for Social and Emotional Supports (Crisis Resources) or AACPS's Office of School Psychologists and Social Workers.
Preventing Suicide: What Families Need to Know
Warning signs of suicide
What to do if you suspect your child is suicidal
How to talk about suicide
Innovative Therapeutic Services
Innovative Therapeutic Services provides counseling, psychiatric rehabilitation (PRP), and medication management services in 28 Anne Arundel County Public Schools. In addition, Innovative Therapeutic Services provides an outpatient mental health clinic for children, adolescents, and adults in Anne Arundel County. Learn how to access services, either at your student's school or at an ITS outpatient clinic.
For information about Psychiatric Rehabilitation (PRP), watch this video from Innovative Therapeutic Services.
What is Innovative Therapeutic Services?
Watch this episode of AACPS At Your Service featuring ITS!
Issues of Equity and Stress
External factors such as unequal treatment, discrimination and microagressions can create stressful situations that affect student success in all areas of their lives. Learn about this connection and, more importantly, learn some strategies for helping your student(s) reduce their stress and increase their success. This video is a contribution from the Fall 2021 Family Involvement Conference.
The Connection Between Equity & Stress in Students
Behavioral & Mental Health Resources
There are many school and community behavioral and mental health resources available to AACPS students and families. School-based services include school counselors, psychologists, pupil personnel workers or PPWs, and your school social worker. Please contact your child's school for access to these school-based services.
Within the Public Behavior Health System, Anne Arundel County's Mental Health Agency also offers services to county residents., including a Crisis Response Team and Warmline (see flyer at the top of the page).
School & Community Behavioral & Mental Health Resources
Anne Arundel County Public Schools Student Support Services
Anne Arundel County Mental Health Agency:
Call 410-222-7858 or visit Anne Arundel Mental Health.
The Public Behavioral Health System in Anne Arundel County