Like a lot of parents, Pat didn't know where to turn when her son began to struggle with unusual behavior.

In the end, he diagnosed himself with obsessive compulsive disorder as a teenager and began receiving treatment. But Pat, who didn't want her last name used, wishes her family and families like hers could have found a way to get him help sooner.

Now they can.

A new Web site, South Dakota Kids Mental Health (www.sdkidsmentalhealth.org) launched Tuesday. Developed by the South Dakota Voices for Children in Rapid City, the site provides a guide for parents navigating the often confusing world of mental health diagnosis and care.

About one in five American children has a mental health disorder, said Rebecca Andrew with Voices for Children. Disorders including anxiety, depression and attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorders are the most common mental disorders in children. Yet nearly 80 percent of children ages 6 to 17 who need mental health services don't get help, according to the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Part of that is because parents don't know where to turn.

When Nebraska recently experienced a rash of older children being abandoned under the state's former safe-haven law, many of the parents reported that their children suffered from mental health issues, but the families did not know how or from to get them more help.

A Web site that gives parents answers is designed to prevent such desperation, Andrew said. "We hope that with this tool, parents can be better educated."

The new Web site allows parents to search for mental health providers in their area. It also provides a list of books and allows parents to sign up for a newsletter. Parents can read the Parent's Guide to Children's Mental Health Services in South Dakota or watch the companion video on the new Web site. A guide can also be ordered online for by calling 605-367-9667 in Sioux Falls.

The Web site was funded by Wellmark Foundation, a part of the health care insurance provider Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, with help from Avera McKennan Hospital and Sanford Health, both located in Sioux Falls.

Today, Pat's son is dealing with his obsessive disorder. "He is actually doing really well, but over the last couple of years, we've been through a lot," she said.

She hopes the new Web site will make it easier for parents with troubled children to find help.

"Parents need to be better educated about the resources out there," she said.

Contact Lynn Taylor Rick at 394-8414 or lynn.taylorrick@rapidcityjournal.com.

What is South Dakota Voices for Children?

South Dakota Voices for Children is a nonprofit, statewide organization that seeks to improve the lives of children through programs and advocacy. Its committee members include 7th Circuit Court Judge Janine Kern and Chiesman Center director John Usera, both of Rapid City.

It was founded in 1993 by concerned parents, business leaders and youth-care professionals.

South Dakota Voices for Children offices are located in the Chiesman Center for Democracy, 1641 Deadwood Ave., Rapid City. For more information, call 721-0699.