For Immediate Release • Thursday, November 17, 2022
The Northern Lights Health Foundation is pleased to announce funding of $10,000 from RBC Dominion Securities to Support Children’s Mental Health.
At Spring Fling 2022, the Health Foundation announced plans to fund the creation of age-appropriate mental health treatment spaces for youth and adolescents at the Northern Lights Health Centre. We are very happy to recognize RBC Dominion Securities for their donation to this project.
The project is to expand services and enhance care provided to children and youth undergoing treatment for acute mental health indicators. The Pediatrics unit at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre was originally designed for children requiring medical care such as support through infection, illness, surgery, cancer care, awaiting specialized treatment or preparation for transfer to a hospital for higher level of care.
The Pediatrics department has noted an alarming shift in the demographics of pediatric patients requiring care on the unit. Now, more beds are utilized by children and adolescents experiencing mental health indicators, often requiring a longer-term stay and additional support from a multitude of mental health, allied health, and social service staff.
To address the need for age-appropriate spaces, reconstruction of three rooms (includes rehousing a staff room) on the pediatric floor are underway. The Sentopia Centre presented by Syncrude will be a sensory room for younger patients, and the Synergy Hub presented by CNOOC will be for teens. Both spaces will have mental health resources to support the development of coping skills/stress management, self-awareness, self-esteem, problem solving, interpersonal effectiveness, assertive communication and mindfulness.
Supporting a child through a mental health crisis with service coordination is an extremely rewarding experience for the team at the hospital. They are having REAL impact that will help children to be successful at home, in school, and in forming friendships and achieving happiness in the future.
We are very delighted to have strong community support for this project and thank RBC Dominion Securities for their donation. Construction on the Sentopia Centre and the Synergy Hub will be underway this winter with an expected completion in late spring 2023.
