The Indianapolis-based Riley Children’s Foundation has announced an $8 million commitment from Sarah and John Lechleiter to improve access to youth mental health care.

The commitment will support efforts to make mental and behavioral health services available through pediatric and primary care offices, address the mental health workforce shortage by providing training to interventionists who work under the supervision of more advanced providers, and offer virtual evidence-based therapy groups to assist children, teenagers and parents/guardians across the state. Initially, Riley Children’s Health will embed mental health services in Riley and IU Health pediatric and primary care offices. To date, the program has launched in eight pediatric and primary care locations, with the remaining sites expected to go live over the next year.

In 2022, the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction pledged $7.5 million contingent on the foundation matching the gift. The Lechleiters’ commitment completes the match and creates a $2 million endowment to sustain the program. Before his retirement, John Lechleiter was chairman, president, and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company.

“Approximately half of Indiana children with major depression do not receive treatment, and half of adults with chronic mental health conditions first had symptoms before the age of 14,” said Leslie Hulvershorn, director of child and adolescent psychiatry at Riley Children’s Health and chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Indiana University School of Medicine. “Through this gift, we are confident the integrated care approach will ensure vital support to primary care providers who are on the front lines of the crisis, and will deliver effective, evidence-based therapies to children and teens who otherwise may be unable to access care.”

“Our children are our future. We want all Indiana children to have the healthiest and most fulfilling lives possible, both physically and mentally,” the Lechleiters said in a statement. “The increase in mental health conditions among our youth is one of the most pressing challenges we face as a state, and we are pleased to be part of supporting meaningful solutions that improve access to care in the near term. We hope that this gift also spotlights the urgent need for additional mental health resources and encourages others to consider supporting this cause.”

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