(COLORADO SPRINGS) — May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Ent Credit Union is launching a fundraising campaign for Children’s Hospital Colorado to support pediatric mental health.
“Pediatric mental health in Colorado, Southern Colorado specifically, is a challenging time,” said Greg Raymond, President of Southern Colorado Care System, Children’s Hospital Colorado. “We should be alarmed with what’s going on. When we look at El Paso County relative to the four other most populus counties in the state, since 2000 El Paso County has experienced double the suicides in our youth compared to Denver County, Douglas County, Jefferson County. That’s not acceptable.”
Raymond also said more than 40 percent of local youth have reported depression so severe that they have altered their daily activities for two weeks in a row or more, compared to a statewide average of 30 percent.
“And then over 20 percent have seriously contemplated suicide compared to a statewide average of just over 17 percent. Things are dire,” said Raymond.
El Paso County’s above average rates are due in a large part to the fact that the area is a “mental health desert,” said Raymond. Meaning there’s an increased demand for services but not enough providers to meet those needs. Ent is hoping to help change that. Ent said since 2019, it has donated nearly $2 million to Children’s Colorado, specifically for supporting mental health.
“Now we’re asking the community to get involved,” said Annie Snead, Senior Manager for Community Advocacy with Ent. “We’re matching dollar for dollar throughout the month of May up to $200,000 across Colorado.” The campaign is called “2024 Catalyst for Children.”
Raymond said donations would allow them to hire more specialists and provide more care in the area.
Donations can be made by scanning the QR code above, or at Ent.com, or by visiting one of Ent’s service locations. Ent is also offering incentives throughout the month to donors including a chance to win tickets to a Red Rocks show on Tuesday, June 11.
Parents who may be concerned about their child’s mental health are encouraged to seek care right away. “Don’t wait,” said Raymond. “Seek services that you need, reach out to your pediatrian or your family practice doctor immediately. If you feel like there is any risk whatsoever seek the appropriate level of care that you can.”
