RBC Race for the Kids Supporting Youth Mental Health at CHEO

Well-being, peace of mind, a sense of belonging and trust in oneself, having support of family and friends to be able to get through life’s challenges and grow stronger…this is what we all hope will be available to our children as they grow up. Sadly, that isn’t always the case.

In the last five years, CHEO has seen more and more children and young people struggling with their mental health. The demand for services including emergency, inpatient, outpatient and community care is increasing dramatically, stretching CHEO’s mental health system to the limit.

What was once thought of as an unusual surge in the need for children and youth mental health services has become the new normal. CHEO has seen a 75% increase in mental health emergency visits since 2010.

Community support provides more than $700,000 each year towards mental health care and research at CHEO.