To expand services and enhance care to children undergoing treatment for acute mental health indicators, the Health Foundation is securing financial support for the creation of a Mental Health & Sensory Room on the Pediatric Unit of the Northern Lights Health Centre.
The Pediatric Unit has key pieces in place for the sensory room to be highly effective in providing pediatric mental health care. The Pediatrics Unit has trained staff and avails of significant interdisciplinary collaboration including registered nurses, the Crisis Response Team, and the Occupational Therapy team of Allied Health, and with health, governmental, and social profit agencies alike. Together they can offer the core mental health programs including psycho-social intervention to teach self-regulation and reduce sensory processing challenges.
The Pediatrics Unit does incredibly well with respect to family engagement, connecting with caregivers, patient relatives, and friends. What the Pediatrics Unit does not have is the appropriate space, equipment, and supplies to offer structured activities and care plans that support optimal mental wellness.
The Pediatric department has identified a space that can be re-deployed to create a Mental Health & Sensory Room. Over the past 40 years, the space has been used as a play area, a quiet nursing room, and as a room to host infants requiring bilirubin light therapy. Healthcare services have changed and evolved a great deal since the hospital was built and more and more we find that allocated spaces do not match with the kinds of care and support that people need. It is time to support specialized mental health care for kids who are inpatients at our hospital and give them the tools and support for long, healthy lives.
We will fund the creation of a Pediatric Mental Health & Sensory Room which includes sensory resources (designed to stimulate vestibular, proprioceptive, aerobic, oral motor, tactile, visual, and auditory processing) and mental health resources (designed to support the development of coping skills/stress management, self-awareness, self-esteem, problem solving, interpersonal effectiveness, assertive communication and mindfulness). The project involves a total renovation to room 2025 on the pediatric ward including new flooring, ventilation, hand wash station, washroom upgrade and paint. It will also require the purchase of sensory technology, play therapy resources, a smart television and comfortable seating, exercise equipment, and appropriate work and therapy stations.
We are currently engaged in securing donations for the Health Foundation's Area of Greatest Need Fund to support this project. Your donation is critical to funding this project. Thank you!
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