My personal journey with mental health started with my father who struggled with anxiety and depression. Now, as a mother of three young adults and knowing the struggles so many people live with, I got involved first at schools and then with Children’s Hospital Colorado. I co-captained our Psyched To Climb team and we keep on growing, now in our 6th year.
Getting the right care at the right time is critical, yet many are not fortunate and continue to struggle: 1 in 5 kids is living with a diagnosable mental health illness but less than 50% will ever receive the appropriate treatment. Here are a few more sobering facts:
- Suicide is the leading cause of death for youth 10-24 years old in Colorado
- Over the last decade, Colorado lost 1,000 residential treatment beds for kids
- 29-42% turnover in the mental health workforce in our state is just one of the reasons why waitlists are running 6-12 months for outpatient services
- 44% of teens report feeling persistently sad or hopeless
- 226,000+ kids and teens in Colorado have documented diagnosable mental health conditions, yet only 22% receive professional care.
The list of issues that our youth cite as contributing to the decline in their wellbeing is long: social media, climate change, worsening political discourse, world instability, gun violence, long term effects of isolation from covid, and lacking a sense of belonging. Their outlook on the future continues to worsen.
In 2024, our Psyched To Climb team has grown to 70+ riders strong! It is the only team in the Courage Classic supporting pediatric mental health. Please consider a gift of $50, $100, $250, $1,000, $2,500 to support mental health. Just click on the DONATE NOW box at the top of this page. Join us in being a part of a change!
To all of you who have supported year after year, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making this one of your philanthropic priorities! MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS! Thank you so very much for helping me and our Psyched To Climb team "brake" the stigma!
With deepest gratitude,
Lydia
