One in five young people suffers from a mental illness, struggling daily from anxiety, depression, bi-polar disorder, or any number of other disorders. According to Golisano Children's Hospital, among the 230,000 children under the age of 18 living in Southwest Florida, roughly 46,000 have a mental disorder.
But many parents in Southwest Florida say pediatric mental health services are difficult to find, and kids themselves often have a hard time knowing where to turn. Experts say early detection is key.
Wednesday 1 p.m. on Gulf Coast Live, Lee Health chief foundation officer Skip Leonard joins the program to discuss pediatric mental health available in our region.
Also joining the program are Susan Goldy and Scott Spiezle with "Kids Minds Matter” an effort through Lee Health the couple helped organize to raise money for a pediatric behavioral health center in Southwest Florida, a need they became aware of while seeking help for their own daughter.
