Thanks, EmerSong volunteers and supporters
Many families are touched by behavioral and mental health issues.
I was honored to serve as volunteer chairperson for the Friends of Emerson Health’s eighth annual EmerSong fundraiser held on March 7 at 51 Walden Performing Arts Center. The performers played two sold-out shows that raised close to $20,000 for Behavioral and Mental Health initiatives at Emerson Health.
Emerson is charged with providing both inpatient and outpatient care to over 30 communities in Massachusetts. Fundraising is a crucial part of funding important initiatives for those in need of mental health treatment.
In Massachusetts, many families are touched by behavioral and mental health issues. The number of adults struggling with some form of mental health condition stands currently at one out of every five adults. If we look at adolescents, one out of every three high school students has symptoms of depression, and 13% of children ages 3 to 17 have anxiety. These conditions often lead to both emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient treatment.
As you may be aware, Emerson Health is proud to have a dedicated Adult Behavioral Unit and continues to outfit it and the ED to help patients feel safe and comfortable during their time at the hospital.
We could not have successfully orchestrated this event without the help of many dedicated volunteers. The Friends of Emerson Health, National Charity League (NCL), and local high school students all gave so willingly of their time and embody the spirit of community we also were fortunate enough to have.
Thank you to all those who supported our event. For more information, visit EmersonHealth.org/EmerSong.
Elaine Ristaino
Elm Street
