Children's Hospital Los Angeles has announced a $25 million gift from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous in support of efforts to expand its cognitive, emotional, and behavioral health services.

The gift will enable CHLA to expand access to mental health services for patients across the institution; expand proactive screening and behavioral health interventions; strengthen training and education for healthcare providers; leverage technology to improve the efficiency of hospital services; and complete the implementation of a new behavioral health outpatient program, including construction of a clinic.

According to the hospital, children with complex and chronic health conditions often demonstrate an increased need for behavioral health interventions, even as CHLA pediatric specialists are seeing increases in anxiety and depression among patients as a result of COVID-related social isolation, school closures, and disruptions to routines.

"On behalf of the vulnerable patients who come to Children's Hospital Los Angeles for care, I am incredibly grateful for this transformational gift," said CHLA president and CEO Paul S. Viviano. "This support will help us extend behavioral health services to every child that we treat, and in doing so truly make a difference in the lives of our most vulnerable patients, now and in the future."