CLIMBING FOR KIDS
BENEFITING PEDIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH
Friday, August 4, 2024
Our Mission on August 4, 2023
Climbing For Kids is a charity 14’er mountain climb benefiting Children’s Hospital Colorado helping to fund and support Colorado children with Pediatric Mental Health challenges.
Colorado is, regretfully, ranked in the top 5 states in the US for teen suicide.
The charity climb aims to drive awareness and financial support for the care of children and families who require early prevention, on-going therapy and access to the medical professionals who can make a difference for the kiddos that need it most.
Whether you’ve ever climbed a 14’er before or not, there’s always a way to help the cause.
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GOAL
In-Person Climbing for Kids
Mt. Bierstadt at 6AM on Friday, August 4, 2023
STATE OF EMERGENCY
Children’s Hospital Colorado has declared a “State of Emergency” for pediatric mental health in Colorado.
We have reached a tipping point in our ability to address the pediatric mental health crisis: suicide is not only the leading cause of death for kids in our state, but also the leading cause for patients seeking care in the emergency departments across our System of Care.
The statistics are staggering and the problem is simply too large and too complicated for any one institution to tackle alone.
With this call to action, we invite others to join us in helping the children and youth who need us most.
Climb Mt Bierstadt
BENEFITING PEDIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH
MENTAL HEALTH FACTS
20% of youth ages 13-18 live with a mental health condition.
Approximately 50% of students age 14 and older with a mental illness drop out of high school.
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in youth ages 15-24.
In the face of Covid-19, on top of the previously existing mental health crisis among Colorado’s youth – suicide is the leading cause of death for 10-24 year old’s – the current situation has had an exponentially negative impact on kids who are isolated and unable to seek critical social engagement with their peers. Dr. Jason Williams, a Psychologist with Pediatric Mental Health Institute at Children’s Hospital Colorado and a team member of the Psyched to Climb team stated: “Unlike the rest of our hospital, where many of our beds are waiting to support the COVID surges, our psychiatric in-patient units have been full.” Pivoting to telemental health visits has been critical for our patients as we are conducting close to 500 visits per week.
We recognize the uncertain economic times we are facing. Nonetheless, our non-profit hospital is facing a $120 million shortfall due to this pandemic – and our Pediatric Mental Health Institute continues to take a huge hit. We ask you to join the Climbing for Kids event and do whatever you can to raise both money and awareness for youth mental health. Remember, Courage can’t be stopped!
“I cannot express enough the gratitude I feel for your participation in the Climbing for Kids event this year. We have been experiencing a public health crisis and are just beginning to understand the resulting financial crisis as we brace for the coming behavioral health crisis. Your commitment in advocating and raising funds has never been more important for youth behavioral health. Together, we can address this crisis and make Colorado a better place for kids and families. Thank you!”
– Shannon Van Deman, VP, Children’s Colorado Pediatric Mental Health Institute
Our inpatient unit is full, which is slightly above average compared to this time last year.
We’ve been able to deliver Partial Hospitalization (PHP) care to rural communities, as a result of moving to a telehealth model and that’s not happened before!
PMHI has been hosting COVID-19 parent groups, currently 6 are on-going and full!
For the kids that have a much larger mountain to climb.
Climb Mt Bierstad Pike National Forest
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