Why Are More Kids Dying by Suicide Than Cancer? A Wake-Up Call for America

In the powerful finale of the Nobody’s Perfect x @spkourminds 6-part series, we sit down with Matt Cook, President & CEO of the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA), the national voice for over 200 children's hospitals across the country. With decades of leadership and front-line experience, Matt brings a bold vision for tackling the youth mental health crisis at scale.

We dive deep into:

- State funding opportunities: How governors and legislatures can tap into Medicaid and block grants to expand mental health services for kids.

- Maximizing Medicaid/EPSDT: Policy strategies to ensure every eligible child benefits from the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment program.

- Policy priorities: Which legislative changes—from tele-health parity to reimbursement reform—could truly turn the tide.

- Innovation in care: The potential of tele-health, real-time data sharing, and digital tools to reach more youth earlier.

- Advocacy playbook: Concrete steps listeners can take—from contacting state reps to joining advocacy coalitions—to drive EPSDT improvements.

Finally, we explore the hopeful future of youth mental health: what it could look like if we invest wisely, innovate boldly, and commit to equity. This episode is both a wake‑up call and a rallying cry—it’s a roadmap for change.

#youthmentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #epsdt #medicaidmatters #childrenshospitals #nobodysperfect #speakourminds #healthcareinnovation #suicideprevention