Bell Let's Talk donates $230,000 to the Jewish General Hospital Foundation

Funds will increase support, training and access to the Child Psychiatry Transitional Care Program at JGH

MONTREAL, May 7, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The Jewish General Hospital (JGH) Foundation is pleased to announce a generous donation of $230,000 over three years from the Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative in support of the JGH's Child Psychiatry Transitional Care Program. This unique program is designed to integrate former patients back into their schools and communities and prevent re-admission to Child Psychiatry services.

This important donation will enable the Transitional Care Program to now serve a larger number of children and families, as well as provide specialized training and support to educators and community service providers.

"These children were referred for mental health problems so severe that they were unable to attend their community schools, and are at greater risk for developing serious mental disorders later in life," said Dr. Phyllis Zelkowitz, Director of Research in the Department of Psychiatry. "After a period of intense treatment in Child Psychiatry, it can be a challenge for families to find the services and support that they need in the community, and many of the gains children make while in treatment can be lost. There is an urgent need for a program like this one, which provides continuity of care, helps parents to serve as advocates for their children, and assists educators in maintaining the children in their community schools."

The program utilizes social and childcare workers to provide the necessary follow-up care and support for children aged five to twelve and their families, building a trusted home-school partnership in the process that focuses on the child's positive academic and social development. Transitional Care Program workers will also develop consultation and training workshops along with French and English language print and online resources for school personnel and service providers in CSSSs and other community organizations to provide ongoing support and knowledge sharing, especially in terms of early detection and prevention.

"Bell Let's Talk is committed to improving access to mental health training, education and care," said Martine Turcotte, Bell's Vice Chair, Québec. "We are proud to support the Jewish General Hospital in helping young people and their families get the support they need through the Child Psychiatry Transitional Care Program."

"Bell's thoughtful support will make a lifelong difference for children coping with mental illness and our society as a whole," said JGH Foundation President and CEO Myer Bick. "It is thanks to the commitment and vision of leading corporate citizens like Bell that we can pave the way for better treatment and outcomes for our children today and in years to come."

About the Jewish General Hospital
Since 1934, the Jewish General Hospital has been a mainstay of superior medical care for generations of patients of all backgrounds. One of Quebec's largest and busiest acute-care hospitals, the JGH is committed to improving the quality of healthcare for all Quebecers in partnership with the provincial healthcare network. Moreover, The Jewish General Hospital has redoubled its commitment providing patients the best possible care in a clean, safe and human-centered environment. The JGH is able to deliver these pioneering, innovative medical services by strengthening its role as a McGill University teaching hospital, by expanding and upgrading its facilities, and by pursuing cutting-edge research at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research. For more information, please visit jgh.ca.

About the Jewish General Hospital Foundation
The Jewish General Hospital Foundation's mission is to advance health care and medical research for the people of Quebec and beyond by supporting Montreal's Jewish General Hospital, a tertiary care, McGill University teaching hospital. The JGH Foundation provides essential assistance to the Hospital to enhance its extraordinary patient care, to further scientific discovery and to acquire the most recent and innovative medical equipment. We partner with inspired members of the community to implement a wide variety of fundraising initiatives to achieve these ambitious goals. For more information, please visit jghfoundation.org.

About Bell Let's Talk
Bell Let's Talk is a national initiative to promote Canadian mental health, based on 4 action pillars: Anti-stigma, care and access, research, and workplace best practices. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk. Headquartered in Montréal since 1880, Bell is Canada's largest communications company. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca.

Image with caption: "Bell is making a donation of $230,000 over a three year period in support of the Jewish General Hospital's Child Psychiatry Transitional Care Program. Martine Turcotte, Bell's Vice Chair, Québec, Rick Seifeddine, Senior Vice-President, Brand, and Allen F. Rubin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the JGH Foundation. (CNW Group/Bell Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130507_C4309_PHOTO_EN_26468.jpg

SOURCE: Bell Canada

Glenn J. Nashen, Director
Astrid Morin, Media Relations
Public Affairs and Communications
Jewish General Hospital
Tel.: [phone] ext. 4612
Email: [email protected]
Website: jgh.ca

Véronique Arsenault
Bell Media Relations
1-855-391-5263
[email protected]
@Bell_News