The need for robust, accessible mental health services has never been greater—especially for our youth. The challenges young people face abound—from the COVID-19 pandemic, to increased isolation, to more time spent on social media. In response, rates of anxiety and depression have skyrocketed. In 2024, more than 13% of youth had serious thoughts of suicide, according to Mental Health America.
Now is the time to meet the escalating need—to make a meaningful difference for generations to come.
Sheppard Pratt—the nation’s largest private, nonprofit provider of mental health services—has the unparalleled expertise and infrastructure to build a comprehensive youth mental healthcare system that effectively meets the needs of our youth.
We need your support to accomplish this bold vision.
Specialized expertise and robust services
From nearly 120 inpatient child and adolescent beds; to the largest network of special education schools in Maryland; to in-school and in-home counseling, when and where children need it most; to crisis intervention; to specialized programs for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), eating disorders, and autism spectrum disorders, Sheppard Pratt’s clinicians encompass a unique and expansive skill set.
“We are at a critical moment where we, as a society, need to pool our efforts to safeguard the mental health of our youth,” says Harsh K. Trivedi, MD, MBA, president and CEO of Sheppard Pratt. “As a national leader, we are making the commitments of time, energy, and resources needed to get to the next level, and we believe there is no limit to the things we can accomplish to change the trajectory of a child’s life. The earlier we can intervene and get a child the care they need, the greater our impact can be, and the better off our kids will be for years to come.”
Sheppard Pratt has been addressing the youth mental health crisis head-on, serving as a helping hand and haven for children and their families as they navigate the path toward hope and healing.
Yet, the need persists. We are called to do more.
A critical need—and a visionary solution
When a family is experiencing a mental health crisis, traditional emergency departments are too often the first stop. They are inundated with pediatric cases, especially here in Maryland—meaning youth often wait more than 20 hours to receive care and placement in a specialized, supportive setting that will meet their needs, such as one of Sheppard Pratt’s nearly 120 pediatric psychiatric beds.
This delay in care for youth in need is unacceptable—and underscores the urgent need for a dedicated children’s mental health hospital in Maryland.
We are poised to develop the leading children’s mental health hospital in the nation, expanding upon our strong framework of specialized care to scale effective programs and interventions.
Our vision of a dedicated children’s mental health hospital is not just about providing immediate care; we will address the underlying issues contributing to the youth mental health crisis by establishing a center of excellence that will serve as a model for the nation.
“We have to address the barriers to care and reimagine how kids and families access mental health services—a reworking of the entire paradigm,” says Dr. Trivedi. “As we move toward this bold goal, we want to radically change mental health not only within our own services but in Maryland, throughout the region, and across the nation.”
The time is now
The need for a dedicated children’s mental health hospital has never been greater, and Sheppard Pratt is at the forefront of this critical mission. With our expertise, experience, and commitment to providing comprehensive care, we can effectively bridge the gap in children’s mental health—but only with your support.
Together, we can make a lasting impact on the well-being of our youth and build a brighter future for generations to come.
“It takes a village to raise a child,” shares Dr. Trivedi. “Sheppard Pratt is going to build that village—one where every child can flourish and thrive. Now is the time, and there’s so much more we can accomplish with your help.”