Oregon Updates Youth Mental Health Crisis Guide
The Oregon Health Authority has moved its Crisis to Care guide for families of young people in mental health crises to an online format.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Mental Health
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The Oregon Health Authority launched an updated, digital version of its Crisis to Care guide for youth mental health. The guide was co-created with the Oregon Family Support Network and is available online for families, educators, and healthcare providers.
Why it matters
The guide is designed for parents and caregivers who often feel overwhelmed, isolated, and unsure where to turn during a youth mental health crisis. It aims to help them assess options and ask informed questions rather than relying solely on hospital emergency departments.
The guide directs families to the 988 crisis line and to Reachout Oregon's warmline, which connects caregivers with trained peers. No measurable usage or outcome figures were reported at launch.
The players
Oregon Health Authority
The state agency responsible for public health and health care programs in Oregon, which launched the updated Crisis to Care guide.
Chelsea Holcomb
A licensed clinical social worker who serves as director of Child, Family, and Lifespan Services at the Oregon Health Authority.
The details
The guide provides guidance before, during, and after an emergency department visit. It was updated and digitized so families, educators, and healthcare providers can access it whenever support is needed.
Timeline
November 6, 2026: The Oregon Health Authority's launch of the updated online guide was reported.
Health Landscape
The Oregon Family Support Network, which co-created the guide, represents the peer-led family advocacy model that the state is extending into digital public resources. The move reflects a broader shift toward giving families direct, non-emergency routes to mental health support.
Parents and caregivers of young people in crisis can use the guide to decide between the 988 crisis line, peer support through Reachout Oregon's warmline, or an emergency department visit. The guide helps families prepare questions before making those decisions.
The takeaway
Families facing a youth mental health crisis have more than one route to help, and knowing those options in advance can reduce the sense of being overwhelmed. Keeping the 988 line and peer warmlines in mind before a crisis arises can make the first call easier.
Further reading
Explore more on Mental Health coverage across Oregon.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Jefferson Public Radio.
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