We are thrilled to announce that the Cherokee Indian Hospital Foundation’s 13th Annual Gala will benefit services and programs who serve the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians and are dedicated to providing pediatric mental health resources in Western North Carolina. This decision comes in response to the urgent need for enhanced mental health support for our children and youth, particularly in light of recent data highlighting the challenges faced by families across North Carolina.
In October 2021, clinicians declared a “National Emergency in Child and Adolescent Mental Health” in a strongly worded statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Children’s Hospital Association. They recommended a number of changes, from clinical practice to public policy, to address this crisis head-on.
According to the North Carolina Health and Human Services, one in five children in North Carolina will experience a serious emotional disturbance, and the state has seen a significant increase in the number of youth experiencing mental health crises. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing mental health challenges, leading to an even greater need for accessible and effective pediatric mental health resources.
Resources for children in crisis are extremely limited across North Carolina and are virtually non-existed for the Western part of the state. As a result, children seeking help in the health care system end up staying days, weeks or even months in emergency departments or at local departments of social services, both of which are considered by the state “inappropriate crisis settings.” A 2023 report from the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services reported that each week in 2022‐2023, NCDHHS was aware of at least 50 children statewide who were waiting in an emergency department (ED) or county DSS offices. Children in North Carolina are often sent to other states, some hundreds of miles away for proper care, which removes them from their community and the only support systems they have ever known, making the journey to healing even more difficult.
NC Child’s 2023 report card found that Suicide became the leading cause of death for children ages 10-14 in 2019. In 2020, an unprecedented 67 children ages 0-18 died by suicide in North Carolina. One in five North Carolina high school students reported seriously considering attempting suicide in 2021, up from 16% in 2017. One in 10 reported actually making an attempt.
The Foundation’s Gala will serve as a platform to raise awareness and funds to support programs that provide crucial mental health services to children and adolescents in our community. By supporting this cause, attendees will contribute to improving the lives of young people and families who are facing mental health challenges.
Join us on June 15, 2024 at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort Event Center for an evening of celebration and fundraising for this important cause. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of our youth and build a healthier, more resilient community.
For more information about the 13th Annual Gala and how you can support pediatric mental health resources, please visit cihfoundation.org or contact CIH Foundation Director Brittney Lofthouse at Brittney.lofthouse@cherokeehospital.org.