ATLANTA, Ga. — A 16-year-old Atlanta teen is using basketball to tackle a problem facing young people across Georgia: getting access to mental health care.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Shyam Contractor hosted a 3-on-3 basketball tournament Saturday at Central Park in Atlanta, raising more than $11,000 for CHRIS 180, a nonprofit that provides mental health services to children, teens and families.
Contractor, who is autistic and has experienced depression, created the event as part of his nonprofit, Happy Kids Tournaments.
The tournament brought together players ages 16 and older for a day of basketball, with a $1,000 cash prize, trophies and other prizes up for grabs.
The fundraiser comes as Georgia continues to rank near the bottom nationally when it comes to children’s access to mental health treatment.
According to America’s Health Rankings, Georgia ranks 47th in the country for the percentage of children who receive needed mental health treatment or counseling. The latest data shows 76.8% of Georgia children receive that care, compared with 83.3% nationally.
The issue is particularly important for families trying to find care for young people who are struggling with mental health challenges.
Saturday’s tournament combined that serious issue with something much more familiar to Atlanta teens: basketball.
The money raised will benefit CHRIS 180 and its mental health programs.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Early morning house fire kills 2 in Atlanta, including father and grandfather
- Heat advisory across north Georgia, temperatures reaching into upper 90s
- Georgia absentee ballot registration for midterm elections to open through Oct. 23
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]