Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine, or TCHATT, is a telehealth program that offers FREE access to mental health services across the state of Texas, including a real-time multidisciplinary team of behavioral health experts, social workers, and child psychiatrists.
• TCHATT partners with participating school districts to increase access to mental health support and services to school staff and their students. These services are provided at no cost to independent school districts, students, and their families.

TCHATT offers a wide range of services for schools and families including:

• For Students/Families
  • Pre-crisis intervention for children with behavioral health concerns – intervening when children are experiencing acute mental health symptoms, preventing a decline and the need for more intense services
  • Up to five sessions a year for assessment, brief intervention, and stabilization through a telemedicine platform for students enrolled in pre-K - 12^th grades. (Services occur through telemedicine at the student’s school.)
  • Care coordination to assist with connecting the student to mental health resources and communitysupport systems
• For School Staff
  • Consultation on mental health protocols, screening, and programming.
  • Mental health education and training

Criteria may vary, but common signs a student is experiencing a crisis and should be considered for referral to TCHATT include:

• Changes in Mood or Behavior
  • Becoming more isolated
  • Lack of interest
  • Changes in sleep
  • Always sad, angry, or irritated
• Challenging Relationships
  • Arguing with friends, teachers, or family members
  • Sudden changes with friendships or relationships
  • No longer interested in important relationships
  • Anxiety or High Stress
• Anxiety or high stress
  • Feeling fearful
  • Difficulty falling or staying asleep
  • Avoiding certain places or people
  • Panic attacks (breathing fast, heart pounding, pressure in chest, hands tingling, head spinning)
• Thoughts of Suicide or Self-Harm
  • Making statements about not wanting to live
  • Not wanting to wake up
  • Non-accidental injuries
  • Statements about being a burden to others

• Any school staff member (teacher, coach, counselor, etc.) can refer a student who they believe could benefit from TCHATT’s services to the school’s designated TCHATT liaison.

• For the Northeast Texas region, email: TCHATT@uttyler.edu.