Children’s Hospital Colorado is urging parents to check in with their kids this April, as clinicians say the month reliably brings a jump in pediatric mental-health emergencies. Hospital staff and statewide behavioral-health experts link the trend to springtime school pressures, standardized testing and shifting routines that can nudge already vulnerable children into crisis. Families are being reminded that short, focused check-ins and getting help early can make a real difference.
Mental-health experts in Colorado report that emergencies among children rise by about 20% in April, according to CBS News Colorado. Clinicians and school counselors say they see the same pattern as the academic year winds down and pressure points like testing and end-of-year transitions ramp up.
Children’s Hospital Colorado has been tracking the pattern for years. The system declared a youth mental-health "state of emergency" in May 2021 and reports that demand for inpatient, outpatient and emergency mental-health care climbed sharply between 2020 and 2024. In 2024 alone, the hospital system cared for more than 11,000 pediatric mental-health patients and logged roughly 7,000 emergency-department visits for behavioral health, according to Children’s Hospital Colorado. Hospital leaders say gaps in community capacity still leave many families leaning on emergency rooms for help.
Why April Sees a Bump
A 2023 analysis in JAMA Network Open found clear seasonal patterns in youth suicidality and related emergency visits, with statistical peaks in April and again in the fall. The authors and other researchers point to the school calendar, including academic stress, peer dynamics and disrupted sleep, as likely contributors to the spring increase.
How Parents Can Help
Experts recommend that families carve out focused, tech-free time to check in, ask open-ended questions and watch for warning signs such as withdrawal, major changes in sleep or appetite, increased irritability or talk of self-harm, according to parent resources from Children’s Hospital Colorado. If a child is in crisis, Colorado Crisis Services offers 24/7 support at 1-844-493-TALK (8255) or by texting TALK to 38255, and the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available at 988 and at 988lifeline.org; call 911 if someone is in immediate danger. Families who need follow-up care can also browse local options and coping tools on the hospital’s resource hub.
Clinicians emphasize that April’s uptick does not mean every mood shift is an emergency, but they say early conversations and quick connection to support can keep a bad stretch from turning into a crisis. Parents and caregivers are urged to reach out to a child’s pediatrician, school counselor or a crisis line if they notice concerning signs.
