'Couches and conversations:' How urgent crisis centers are helping address rising mental health struggles - CT Insider

Cris Villalonga-Vivoni

Tue, October 21, 2025

Read the full article here: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/couches-conversations-urgent-crisis-centers-100022167.html

When Edward LaRose received a call from his daughter’s school saying she had expressed thoughts of self-harm, he didn’t panic — but he knew she needed help. Unsure where to turn, the school gave him two options: the emergency room or Wellmore Behavioral Health’s Urgent Crisis Center in Waterbury.

LaRose chose Wellmore — and from the moment he and his daughter arrived, he knew it was the right decision. Staff were waiting at the door, greeting them with calm voices and steady guidance. Rather than rushing through an assessment, clinicians took time to ask his daughter what she was feeling and what she needed. By the end of the visit, she was breathing easier and equipped with strategies to manage overwhelming emotions.

“She was really just overwhelmed, and we didn’t want to do something so heavy-handed,” LaRose said. “We wanted to seek support in an environment where she would feel heard, seen, and validated.”

Since 2022, Connecticut has opened three community-based Urgent Crisis Centers — in Waterbury, Hartford, and New London — licensed by the Department of Children and Families. These centers are designed as an alternative to the emergency room for youth under 18 experiencing mental health challenges such as suicidal thoughts, depression, anxiety, self-harm, or behavioral outbursts.

At Wellmore, families are welcomed into a space that feels comforting and safe — not clinical or intimidating. Inspirational messages line the walls, and families meet with a full team of professionals including clinicians, nurses, psychiatrists, and family navigators who work together to provide immediate, wraparound support.

“We are couches and conversations,” said Dr. Taby Ali, associate medical director at Wellmore. “This is often the hardest day for a family or a child. You just want to be somewhere you feel safe and comfortable because you’re sharing something that’s really hard to talk about — and we really honor that.”

More than 2,460 children and families have turned to these crisis centers since they opened. According to state data, nearly 90% of youth show improvement during their visit, and 98% are safely discharged home. Families often describe the centers as “safe havens” — places where children can calm down, express themselves openly, and build trust with caring professionals who listen without judgment.

For LaRose and his daughter, the visit to Wellmore marked a turning point. His daughter, who had been struggling with gender dysphoria and emotional stress, finally began to open up and find her voice. “The staff took the time to talk to me as a father, too,” LaRose said. “It made me feel like we were in a place that cared not just about my daughter, but about my family and our community.”

The Urgent Crisis Centers have become essential lifelines for families across Connecticut, particularly as children’s mental health needs continue to rise. However, the future of these programs remains uncertain. Initially funded through the federal American Rescue Plan Act, that funding expired in 2024, leaving many centers facing challenges to sustain operations despite growing demand.

Even with these uncertainties, the impact is clear. Families who once relied on emergency rooms or waited hours for crisis response now have access to immediate, compassionate care in their own communities.

Today, LaRose says his daughter is stronger, more self-aware, and more open with him than ever before. “She’s starting to really find herself,” he said. “She still has her struggles, but she’s better equipped to handle them — and we both walked away with tools that continue to help us every day.”

At Wellmore’s Urgent Crisis Center, moments like these remind the team why this work matters. Each child who walks through the door is met with empathy, understanding, and the reassurance that they are not alone — because when a family is in crisis, the right care can make all the difference.

View the full article here: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/couches-conversations-urgent-crisis-centers-100022167.html

Seeking Treatment & Counseling

We offer an array of outpatient and intensive in-home programs for treating substance use and behavioral health issues. Therapy can be beneficial or necessary for both the individual with substance use issues, other family members, and loved ones.

Call us at 203-756-7287 (Children & Adolescents), 203-755-1143 (Adults), or visit wellmore.org for more information. Telehealth and telephonic services are also offered.