Ontario children’s hospitals get $35 million donation for mental health

The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto is seen in this undated file photo. (CTV News Toronto)

Two Ontario children’s hospitals say they have received a transformative $35 million donation that will advance precision mental health care for kids in their care.

CHEO and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) made the announcement together in a news release on Thursday, saying the generous donation comes at a time when 1.2 million Canadian children and youth are affected by mental illness and emergency room visits are up more than 60 per cent.

The donation was a gift from the Waverley House Foundation, and the hospitals say it is enabling them to “redefine mental health care for children and youth through precision medicine that offers personalized approaches.”

”I’ve seen how mental health challenges can ripple through families and generations. Too often, we react too late. Surely early detection and intervention in youth will change lives, save lives. As a father, grandfather, and former teacher, I see the energy, potential, and resilience of young people,” Bruce McKean, the founder of Waverley House Foundation, said in a news release.

“Supporting CHEO and SickKids to bring greater precision to treatment will bring faster and better outcomes and give children and youth the best chance to thrive. The combination of vision, leadership and collaboration we see in CHEO and SickKids deserves the philanthropic support we are delighted to provide.”

The hospitals said approximately 70 per cent of mental health challenges begin early in life, and early diagnosis and intervention are essential to long-term well-being. They added that precision mental health care uses data and research to tailor treatment to each young person’s unique biology, environment, lifestyle and experiences.

“This gift changes what’s possible for children’s mental health, and by working together, we can implement programs on multiple levels, ensuring that breakthroughs don’t just happen in one hospital, but they can benefit children across Canada,” Dr. Jennifer Crosbie, Clinical Psychologist at SickKids.

“Funding advances in precision mental health care ultimately means personalized approaches that allow us to predict better and develop treatments based on each child’s unique characteristics.”.

The hospitals stated that Canada’s top pediatric experts at their institutions are now “working to predict risks earlier, personalize care more quickly, and help more children receive treatment that works for them.”

“Traditional mental health treatments are our best and most current option for children and youth. But for up to half of the kids we see in hospital for these issues, standard treatments just don’t work,” Dr. Kathleen Pajer, a senior scientist with CHEO Research Institute said.

“Thanks to the generosity of the Waverley House Foundation, we can move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach and advance precision mental health care that’s based on genetics, social and environmental factors and what’s going on in the individual lives of these young patients, so we can diagnose earlier and treat more effectively.”