Caring for Kids in Crisis

The mental health crisis among children and teens is growing worse. Young people have experienced social isolation, disruptions to their routines, learning difficulties and loss of loved ones.

This is a national crisis and one that will be long lasting.

Sunday’s cover story in The Washington Post Magazine focused on the children’s mental health crisis. The piece featured several of our leaders in pediatric mental health who shared their insight about the crisis and its impact on local kids.

Read the article.

Last year, Children’s National Hospital experienced a 63% increase in inpatient consultations for mental health emergencies compared to 2019.

The pandemic has turned the mental health crisis into an emergency. It exposed inequities and gaps in care. We’ve seen soaring cases of depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, self-harming behavior, eating disorders, domestic violence and gun violence.

Mental health care for children is underfunded and overstretched. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 80% of kids who need specialized mental health services don’t get them.

Children’s National aims to change this trajectory.

Through our follow the leader campaign, we are using our subject-matter experts and vast community network to increase access to care and build a powerful force that intervenes before children are in crisis.

Philanthropy is a critical tool in helping us to meet this growing challenge and ensure young people realize the healthy futures they deserve.


Visit Spearheading Integrated Mental Health Care to learn more about our follow the leader campaign’s vision to transform mental health care across our community.

To support mental health care in our community, please donate here and specify our mental health program, or email Cheryl Balchunas at [email protected].