The Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation announced a $2,000,000 anonymous donation to the Stanton Territorial Hospital to improve child and youth mental health in the NWT over the next three years.
These funds are specifically dedicated to a three-year program to increase psychiatric assessments through the Hospital for Sick Kids telepsychiatry program and to enhance youth psychiatry training for NWT health and social services system staff.
Sandra MacKenzie, Chair of the Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation stated on the Foundation’s Facebook page that they have worked hard to bring this program funding to the residents of the NWT to enhance patient care in child and youth mental health services.
“Our children deserve every advantage and bringing specialized youth psychiatric care into our communities through the telemedicine program and enhancing the level of care within our territorial hospital will truly change lives and futures.”
The program will focus on creating links between providers, patients, and the Sick Kids telepsychiatry program, linking patients with aftercare, and connecting youth to local resources.
“Through the generosity of donors and sponsors, we continue to raise funds to allow our health system to try new models of care. We are delighted to be providing a contribution that will make such a positive difference,” stated MacKenzie.
Sue Cullen, Chief Executive Officer of the NTHSSA thanked the Stanton Foundation and the generous anonymous donor for providing this opportunity to implement a new model of care.
“This provides additional resources to examine how telepsychiatry services fit within our system and how we can use these services to help improve the care and services we deliver to children and youth across the NWT.”
The $2 million is the biggest single donation the Yellowknife-based foundation has received. The implementation of the telepsychiatry program is targeted for fall 2019.
