More than 15 million children and teens across the United States need help from a specialized mental health professional. And yet, there are fewer than 9,000 psychiatrists trained to fill that need, according to the American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
That gap is particularly problematic, as early support is beneficial in preventing more issues later.
How to get help to kids who need it? Train more people to support them and their mental health needs. That’s exactly what a gift from Sheri Sobrato Brisson M.A. ’94 and Eric Brisson does.
Their money will focus on hiring a leading national expert through an endowed chair and building a full specialization in child and adolescent mental health in the Counseling Psychology program, in addition to funding research and public outreach.
“Our aim is to be a leading force in support of our young people—both in meeting their immediate needs and in helping them forge flourishing lives of meaning, purpose, and connection,” says Dean Sabrina Zirkel of the School of Education and Counseling Psychology.