How Teens Can Access Mental Health Services in Vermont

Topaz H, Lara K, Chloe K & Sarah W
Apr 16
4 min read

If you break a bone or find yourself under the weather for a little too long, you would look for a way to get help. So, why should your mental health be any different? Whether you are struggling with depression, anxiety, substance use or any other mental stress, it is important to see what’s out there to make things easier on yourself. As teens, it can be difficult to know where to start looking, or where the best help can be found. Well, if you happen to be in Vermont, we have some good news for you! In this article you’ll be able to find Vermont-specific, and nation-wide, resources such as call lines, websites, counseling services and support to help you out.

Who are the teens of Vermont?

The state of Vermont is diverse, including people who are White, Hispanic, Latino, Black/African American, and Native American people living within its borders. Of all these people 6.5% have some form of mental difficulty (United States, 2025).

Now, if we’re looking directly at Vermont’s teens, we’ve found that 40.8% of 12-17 year olds have felt depression and haven’t gained any help to treat it (NAMI, 2021). Within this group 30% have reported mental health issues, 29% feeling hopelessness/sadness for at least 2 weeks in a year, and 36% feeling nervousness and anxiety most of the time in a year (Vermont Department of Health,2024).

If you yourself have felt this depression or anxiety then as you can see you are not alone. But you don’t have to be one of the 40.8% without care to treat it. To start, we can look towards the government and what resources it offers you.

What does the government offer?

The Department of Mental Health in Vermont offers plenty of resources that you can benefit from.

First we have VTCPAP where teens can talk to therapists who can help them with getting a diagnosis or treatment.

Then we have act 264, which is a law for a service to get teens with some form of disability help from the government. For example setting a plan, dependent on your needs, to achieve a goal or find current support near you.

Other Resources in Vermont

There are plenty of ways to find help in Vermont, from phone lines and websites, to community support and therapy services. Here are a few examples from us to help you figure out what’s best for you!

Websites

Websites can be a great place to find a lot of information to help you find out what services you might be able to access. If you find yourself internet savvy this might be the best place to start looking for what you need.

National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI): A nonprofit organization aimed at helping those across the United States with mental health issues.

The Trevor Project: A nonprofit organization aimed to support LGBTQ+ teens and young adults and prevent suicide and crisis.

Phone lines

Almost everyone has a phone on hand and sometimes it’s easier to talk, or text, with someone directly about what’s on your mind. Phone lines can help with that, and If you need help urgently then calling a helpline can be your best bet as it’s one of the fastest ways of getting the help you need.

Teen Line: An anonymous helpline for teens to talk to other volunteer teens about issues such as depression, anxiety, relationships and loneliness. Call 1-800-852-8335 or text 839868.

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 988: A help line where you can talk, text, or chat directly about urgent mental health issues 24/7. Includes options for if you’re deaf, hard of hearing, or prefer to speak in Spanish. Call or text 988, or visit the website to chat with someone now.

Vermont 211: A texting, calling, online service that helps the people of Vermont to find community mental health support resources. Call 211 or text your zipcode to 898211. Someone there can help you find the best service for your situation!

Counselling and therapy services

Therapy and counseling can be a big step in changing your life’s path. There are many types of therapy that can be made to fit into your own preference. Here are some online resources that can assist in finding a therapist.

VermontHelpLink.org: Statewide, 24 hour, free services to teens and adults to help find the right support.

Opencounseling.com: Get matched with a therapist by answering a few simple questions.

Our Favorite Resource

Sometimes it’s easier to start with just one resource, so we would like to highlight vthelplink.org as a great place to start and here’s why:

I like VT Helplink because it builds a positive and mutually supportive connection between people who are struggling through group treatments. - Lara

VT Helplink has services for you right at home, helping you where you really need it - Topaz

I like how VT Helplink offers individual and group counseling based on personalized issues. - Sarah

VT Helplink has multiple options to choose from and allows you to fit your needs based on what works best for you - Chloe

Closing

As you can see, mental health support is here in Vermont and all of these resources prove it. But, since Vermont doesn’t have as many teen specific resources, we’d like to point out that there are still plenty of more resources nationwide worth looking into as well! With so many different styles of help, one is sure to work best for your lifestyle, and if you’re struggling the best thing you can do is reach out. After all, your mental health is super important!

Call-to-Action

If you are in need of help, Vermont is here for you. If you know someone who needs these resources we encourage you to share this post with them so they can take that first step. Also, if you have ever used any of these free resources, we would love it if you could share your thoughts on them in the comments!