Colorado Rotary Endowed Fellowship for Pediatric Mental Health at Children’s Hospital

Today, suicide is a LEADING cause of death for youth in Colorado starting at age 10. This number is nearly double the National average. One in five children are living with a mental health disorder, but less than 50% will ever receive the appropriate treatment. Our young people are experiencing a mental health crisis which has been worsened and exposed by the isolation, stress and anxiety created by the covid-19 pandemic. Adding fuel to the flames, we have experienced up to 42 % workforce turnover over the past year. There currently is inadequate mental health support and access to care to prevent children from escalating to a crisis level. What we’re describing is an immense problem, and one that is not limited to Colorado alone. The Colorado Rotary Endowed Fellowship for Pediatric Mental Health at Children’s Hospital Colorado is working to build a sustainable infrastructure that will help ensure today’s anxiety for kids doesn’t grow into deeper, lifelong struggles as adults.