The mental healthcare system is excruciatingly difficult to navigate through. Day after day, week after week people, especially adolescents are refused psychiatric inpatient treatment. They are misdiagnosed, mistreated, undiagnosed, and left to fight their own demons because people "can't accommodate" or "no beds" not to mention the ridiculous wait lists for care, in some places it's longer than 2 years. What happens when people are depressed and in a crisis? A crisis left untreated leads to a rise in suicide. 

We need to do better! The care needs to be more obtainable. Not just for adults! The time to treat mental health is in adolescent years so they don't grow up to be undiagnosed/misdiagnosed struggling adults that can't lead happy successful lives. Stop acting as if mental health is not as important as physical health. You can't have one and not the other. Our kids are the future! Have you ever thought: "let's end bullying" or "let's end gun violence in schools" well in order to take that step, it starts with properly addressing the mental healthcare system and treatment that is available to our youth. Teen suicide is too common and it is that way because we have a flawed system. It is the 3rd leading cause of death among children. Statistically more boys follow through than girls- studies are not sure as to why. 

I myself have a child on the Autism spectrum that is constantly turned away for treatment for suicidal ideation and intent. He is featured in the photo with me. On 5/5/2022 he was almost the victim of our flawed system after asking for help repeatedly since April. 

Please join me in this fight to create the awareness for the change we need to mental healthcare.  I encourage you all to write letters to your local and state governments in addition to signing this. 

Nothing is ever accomplished sitting down! We need to stand up for the youth of today, they are the future of tomorrow. 

Let's do better!!