GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — The Children’s Hospital Colorado (Children’s Colorado) is offering a free virtual health town hall on Tuesday for parents to maximize their own and their children’s mental wellness during the upcoming summer break.
On Tuesday, May 5, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., experts from the hospital’s Pediatric Mental Health Institute will discuss the risks of isolation and unstructured time for youth. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn practical tools to make the summer rewarding for parents, caregivers, and children.
The online event, moderated by the Pediatric Mental Health Institute’s Vice President of Patient Care Services Lyndsay Gaffy, will be attended by Ben Mullin, director of outpatient clinical services and the Colorado OCD and Anxiety Program, Carmen Gray, a behavioral health clinician, and Emma Lyons, a pediatric psychologist.
Those interested in attending the event can RSVP at www.eventbrite.com.
In April of this year, Children’s Colorado’s pediatric experts saw over 5,900 patients with mental health concerns. A number the hospital states is “12% higher than the average month.” It also states that over the past two years in April, the hospital has seen an 20% increase in patients going to the emergency department for mental health-related concerns compared to other months.
“End-of-year exams, prom, impending schedule changes, the transition to summertime, more screen time, pressure of school sports or post-graduation life decisions, starting a summer job, and more can all pile onto a child during this time,” stated Children’s Colorado in a press release. “This year, that stress may be intensified by broader global pressures — rising grocery and gas prices, international events, and the anxiety some families may feel from watching the news.”
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