East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Mental Health Initiative Fund

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the children in our community need our help.

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Mental Health Awareness: 1 in 5 children struggle with mental health issues Mental health looks different in all children and can range from chronic stomach aches to suicidal thoughts beginning at the age of five years old. Children are exposed to many potential stressors throughout their day.

Each year, the hospital sees an increased need for mental health support, especially during specific times of the year when children face stressors like testing, graduation, prom and more. During these months, visits and services increased by 73% month-to-month.

Over the last year, we have invested in behavioral and mental health support in many ways, including hiring a director to take the lead on all behavioral health initiatives and expanding the social work team. This has allowed us to further expand the mental health program across the hospital’s healthcare system and offer faster, more accessible care for children and families.

This effort, partnered with a large donor has allowed us to place our first lead behavioral health consultant (BHC) at Oak Ridge Pediatrics beginning this summer. This BHC strategy will serve as a pilot program that will be implemented across our primary care offices in years to come in order to meet our patients where they are – in their communities with their trusted pediatricians.

The Mental Health Initiative Fund is designed to support current initiatives and needs at our hospital as well as help enhance education, assessment tools, programs and access. Help us further expand our mental health program and donate today to make an impact on a child in our community.

Dr. Suzanne Rybczynski, Chief Medical Officer at East Tennessee Children's Hospital, speaks about the mental health issues facing children in our area.

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Community in Crisis

Mental Health in Children

Thank you for helping us take care of our future, one child at a time.

1 in 5 children struggle with mental health concerns

19% of all children in the state have seriously considered suicide

Most commonly diagnosed disorders in children:

ADHD
Anxiety
Behavior problems
Depression

Children with mental disorders seen in East Tennessee Children's Hospital Emergency Department: 1,600 in 2023

What Children's Hospital is doing

Universal screenings for all inpatients 12 years and older

Cognitive behavior therapies at every Children's Hospital location

In 2022, partnered with Helen Ross McNabb Center to open onsite Crisis Stabilization Unit, the first in the state

In 2024, partnered with United Cleanup Oak Ridge (UCOR) to expand regional behavioral health outreach at Oak Ridge Pediatrics, with plans to expand to all Primary Care offices in the future.

What Your Dollars Can Support

Helen Ross McNabb Center Telemedicine Program at ETCH primary care offices

Immediate patients needs and family support, including safe clothing

Developmentally appropriate activities for patients

Comprehensive mental health assessment tools

"As someone who has made it their life's work to make people feel gorgeous on the outside, it is equally important to me that people also feel beautiful on the inside. That's why it is my honor to, once again, work with the amazing team at East Tennessee Children's Hospital during Mental Health Awareness Month. With the help of our amazing guests, grow will be donating a portion of our sales to Children's Hospital's Mental Health Initiative Fund as part of our grow Gives Back initiative throughout May. This will allow continued support to those who need it most. I am thrilled to be even a small part of that huge success!"

-- Shane Archer, Owner of grow knoxville - a Shane Archer Concept Salon