Editor, Gazette-Journal:

It may surprise you to know that 1 in 5 children has a diagnosable mental health condition.

It’s astounding to think that more young people, ages 15-24, die from suicide, stemming from mental health issues, than from cancer, heart disease, birth defects, AIDS, stroke, pneumonia and chronic lung disease combined. In fact, the U.S. life expectancy has decreased in the last three years due to suicide and drug abuse.

According to CHKD’s 2016 Community Health Needs Assessment, access to mental health services was identified as the region’s top pediatric health priority!

The Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters plans to close the gap in mental health services by building a best-in-class inpatient and outpatient mental health center. The project, which received approval from the state, will add a total of 60 inpatient beds at the main CHKD Norfolk campus.

So now the work begins to raise money for the facility, at an estimated ...