Mental Health

Supporting Student Wellness

We are committed to promoting, providing, and developing a robust continuum of care through the convergence of policy creation, behavioral health services, multi-tiered systems of social and emotional support, restorative practices, and community partnerships to advance an equitable culture of mental health and wellness across the district.

Update on the Telemental Health Pilot: Beginning in March 2025, Chicago Public Schools participated in a telemental health pilot program with Hazel Health, providing over 450 CPS high school students access to more than 2,600 high-quality teletherapy visits at no cost. The pilot concluded on June 30, 2026. While the pilot has ended, our long-standing mental health services continue to be available.

Chicago Services Resource Guide

Find mental health services in the Chicago area with our community resource guide. While many listed providers offer free or sliding-scale options, please contact them directly to confirm payment details.

View Guide

School-Based Health Centers Map

Located in or near schools, school-based health centers provide primary care to students at no out-of-pocket cost. Most services require parent or caregiver consent. Call ahead to make an appointment.

View Map

Chicago Mental Health Clinics Map

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) operates 7 Mental Health Clinics and offers mental health services at three City of Chicago libraries.

Find a Clinic

Our Framework for Supporting Mental Health

Our school-baed mental health services are framed within the District's Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) approach to meet students where they are.

Tier 1: Prevention & Awareness

This programming focuses on building a safe, informed, and proactive school culture for all students across the district. Our universal approach includes the integration of district-wide social and emotional learning (SEL) frameworks alongside classroom-based health education modules dedicated to mental health and substance use awareness. Additionally, the District provides mental health awareness workshops/trainings for students, families, and staff, which cover critical topics such as Mental Health First Aid, healthy relationships, suicide prevention, and overdose awareness.

Tier 2: Targeted Interventions

These services focus on mental health monitoring and targeted interventions for students requiring additional care. Services are primarily delivered in small group settings by qualified professionals within the school.

Tier 3: Individualized Supports

These services provide one-on-one support and crisis intervention for students who need individualized support. These services are delivered by qualified professionals.

Find Mental Health Services in Your Community

Chicago Services Resource Guide

The resource guide helps the CPS community in accessing mental health services across the Chicagoland area. Many listed providers offer free or sliding-scale services; however, families should contact providers directly to confirm payment details.
School-Based Health Centers

Located in or near schools, these sites provide primary care to students at no out-of-pocket cost. Most services require parent or caregiver consent. Call ahead to make an appointment.
City of Chicago Mental Health Clinics

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) operates 7 Mental Health Clinics and offers mental health services at three City of Chicago libraries.
2-1-1 Metro Chicago

Free, 24-hour health and social service support for non-emergency crises and everyday needs. Call 2-1-1 or text your ZIP code to 898-211.
Illinois Mental Health Collaborative (WARM Line)

Call 866-359-7953 for confidential, free support from professionals with lived experience in mental health or substance use recovery, and for referrals to mental health services.

Additional Mental Health Resources

If you or someone you know has thoughts of suicide, has experienced trauma, or wants to talk with someone about overwhelming thoughts and feelings, we encourage you to talk with a trusted adult. This may include a parent, guardian, or adult in your school. Your school’s Behavioral Health Team (BHT), which may include a counselor, social worker, nurse, or psychologist, can help you get the support you need.

If you are a parent or caregiver and need support starting a conversation with your child, review our family guide on Talking to Your Child About Mental Health & Suicide Prevention.

For anyone struggling with thoughts of suicide, know that you are not alone and there are immediate resources available.

Call or text 988 to access the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline which provides free and confidential services 24/7 in any language.
You can also connect to a Crisis Counselor 24/7 through the Crisis Hotline. Text HOME to 741741 or call the National Youth Crisis Hotline at 1-800-448-3000.

There are other hotlines you can call for targeted support for specific mental health concerns:

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Chicago: 1-833-626-4244
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: 1-800-662-4357
The National Eating Disorder Association: 1-800-931-2237
The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ Support): 1-866-488-7386
The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233

In order to foster a positive and welcoming environment, it is important to take care of ourselves and our community by checking in on one's mental wellbeing. We want to provide our CPS community with resources to help them navigate the various challenges they could be facing, whether they are coping with grief, are looking to stay informed on self-harm, or are managing seasonal mood changes, we want to provide tools in order to foster healing and wellness.

General Information on Grief and Loss
Grief and loss can present in various ways and can be processed differently across cultures. Use these resources to learn about how to help students experiencing grief.
General Information on Self-Harm
If you or someone you know is self-harming, there are resources and support available that can help you find alternative and healthier coping strategies.
Nutrition & Mental Health
Learn more about how nutrition practices and mental health coincide, and explore available food depositories and resources in your area.
Chicago Resource Guide
Explore a comprehensive list of local resources which includes mental health providers.
#PleaseStayPledge Campaign
CPS is thrilled to announce that we’ve partnered with Born This Way Foundation and Find Your Anchor on Please Stay — a new campaign that reminds students of the importance of prioritizing their mental health and supports that are available to them. We encourage all teachers, community leaders, counselors, and other school staff to help students find their anchors over the course of the school year.

Mental Health Days: Every student is allowed five mental health days for each school year and they are excused absences. Parents and guardians can enter their student’s mental health days into the Aspen Parent Portal via E-Absence.

Students in Pre-K - 2nd Grade
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Present Over Perfect: Wellness Toolkit for Elementary School Students and Parents
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Present Over Perfect: Wellness Toolkit for Middle and High School Students
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Anytime is a good time to ask a young person how they are feeling. Have regular check-ins with your young person to talk about what they are feeling and experiencing. You can use this resource, Supporting Your Student’s Mental Health, to help guide you. If a young person tells you that they have been feeling hopeless, has thoughts of self harm, an inability to concentrate, or other signs of emotional distress, connect them to a healthcare provider.

To connect a young person to a healthcare provider:

Clinicians in schools may help connect families to local healthcare providers.
CPS students can access healthcare through a School-Based Health Center (SBHC). Locate a SBHC near you.
The CDPH Community Resource Directory can help identify a healthcare provider to fit a student’s specific needs.
CPS and CDPH are working together to increase youth mental health awareness. Here are some resources you can use:
OSHW CFBU Coordinators are available to assist families with enrollment, engagement, and utilization of free health care services throughout Chicago. They can be reached at 773-553-KIDS (5437).
If your student is struggling with school avoidance you can watch these videos to learn more about how you can support them.

School Avoidance - Video and video Slide Deck
La Evasión Escolar - Video y las diapositivas del video

For specific questions or resources, please contact OSHW@cps.edu.

For non-crisis mental health related questions or resources, please contact mentalhealth@cps.edu

To support the CPS community, OSHW has resources available to support you, or a loved one, connect with substance use treatment or information.

For non-crisis substance use support or to request substance use prevention and education workshops for parents and caregivers, please reach out to mentalhealth@cps.edu.

Hotlines for targeted support on specific substance use issues:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): 877-726-4727
Illinois Helpline: 833-234-6343 or text "HELP" to 833234
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): 301-443-6441
FindTreatment.gov: 800-662-HELP (4357)
Illinois Harm Reduction and Recovery Coalition

Medicaid Enrollment Assistance

Medicaid health insurance in Illinois provides eligible children greater access to licensed mental health providers. The CPS Office of Student Health and Wellness can help families enroll in and renew public health benefits. Call 773-553-KIDS (5437) or submit a Healthy CPS Assistance Request Form.

Learn more about how we can help your family apply for and renew other public benefits.

Supporting Priority Student Groups

Our commitments to equity and meeting all students are reflected within the targeted supports available to high-need student groups.

With LGBTQ+ youth facing mental health challenges at higher rates than their peers, our District employs a comprehensive set of strategies to enhance school climate and make schools safer and more welcoming to LGBTQ students. For more information, please view our LGBTQ+ Supportive Environments page.

CPS is also committed to supporting the mental health of our students in temporary living situations (STLS). CPS schools and networks provide assistance in removing barriers to qualified students, including the provisions of services such as transportation, school uniforms, school supplies, fee waivers, and referrals to community resources. For more information, please review our STLS page, call 773-553-2242, or email STLSInformation@cps.edu.

School Policy

CPS adopted the Comprehensive Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Policy in March 2022. This policy establishes a comprehensive approach to mental health, suicide awareness, and prevention that is applied consistently throughout the district.

Our students' well-being and mental health are our top priority at CPS. That is why, since 2022, every student has been allowed five mental health days for each school year. Mental health days are excused absences. Parents and guardians can enter their student’s mental health days into the Aspen Parent Portal via E-Absence, just like any other excused absence.

CPS adopted the Comprehensive Student Substance Use Prevention and Intervention (K-12) Policy in July 2024. This policy ensures schools are in compliance with Illinois laws, ISBE standards, and best practice strategies for prevention education, student substance use intervention, and school opioid intervention procedures.