The National Bank Donates $100,000 to The Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation to support Children's Mental Health in a Time of Crisis Français
The donation to the Pediatric Emergency Mental Health Fund will support
remote services for kids suffering from mental health issues
MONTREAL, May 6, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - Under normal conditions, one in five children suffers from psychological distress before they finish high school. During this unprecedented crisis, the team of psychiatric experts at the Children's believe the situation could deteriorate. To support psychiatric services at the Children's, which, because of COVID-19, must be equipped now more than ever to offer remote care to young patients and their families throughout Quebec, including northern Cree and Inuit communities, the National Bank will donate $100,000 to the Pediatric Emergency Mental Heath Fund.
"The current situation presents an unprecedented challenge for children and their families. The role of mental health experts and the care they provide are more essential than ever. This donation is part of the National Bank's commitment to the Children's Foundation, which we have supported for more than 30 years," said Louis Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Bank.
The donation will help provide the Children's specialists with the necessary equipment and tools to use platforms that provide remote services during the pandemic and afterward.
"During this critical period, it is our duty to equip ourselves with the necessary resources to help our young patients struggling with mental health issues," says Dr. Martin Gignac, Chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Children's. "The National Bank's donation will allow us to stay in touch with them through remote care services, helping them feel safe and manage the complex emotions associated with crisis situations."
The Fund will also equip front-line pediatricians in the community with training materials and support research to develop new treatments specially adapted for children and teens.
"Now more than ever, children experiencing mental health issues need us to be there for them," says Renée Vézina, President of the The Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation. "The National Bank's generous donation provides invaluable support for young people's mental health and will help us ease their suffering."
To learn more about the Pediatric Emergency Mental Health Fund, visit:
https://fondationduchildren.com/en/fundraising/pediatric-emergency-mental-health-fund
* For interview requests with Dr. Martin Gignac, please contact Paul Logothetis at [email protected] or at 514 922-5696.
About the Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation
The mission of the Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation is to inspire and mobilize the community to support innovation in research, teaching and care at the Montreal Children's Hospital, the pediatric teaching hospital for McGill University's Faculty of Medicine, and pediatric research at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre. Since its inception in 1973, the Foundation has raised over $500 million, which has transformed the lives of sick children through innovative research and teaching projects, and cutting-edge care. For more information, please visit childrenfoundation.com.
About the Montreal Children's Hospital Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
The Department of Psychiatry at the Children's has a long history of treating children and adolescents struggling with mental health issues. Founded over 60 ago, it was the first psychiatry department in Canada to provide services for adolescents, and many leading child psychiatrists in both Canada and the United States were trained there. The department gradually became part of McGill University's Department of Psychiatry, eventually becoming the Division of Child Psychiatry. The department's mission is to provide services to children and their families from a perspective of excellence and leadership in mental health, and to promote a culture of excellence, innovation and continuing education.
SOURCE The Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation
Sylvie Desjardins, Director of Communications, Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation, 450 396-6590
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