Creation of an early detection and intervention program for mental illness in schools

MONTREAL, Oct 14, 2015 / CNW Telbec / - Thanks to an exemplary donation of two million dollars offered by RBC Royal Bank, the CHU Sainte-Justine can now build the first foundations of its program for the prevention of mental illness in schools. Based on a model proven in several countries, this innovative program will be rolled out in some thirty secondary schools in the greater Montreal area. It aims to detect and intervene upstream of mental illness in adolescents between 12 and 18 years old, directly in their living environment, thus reducing the impact of the illness in the long term.

Mental health among young people: a worrying issue
It is known that 70 % of mental health problems in young people take root in adolescence. This period of great vulnerability is characterized by physical, mental and social upheavals which have significant repercussions on the individual's life course. When a mental health problem arises, the educational progress, social integration and well-being of the young person are affected. At present, thousands of young people have to deal with this reality and yet, a majority of them do not benefit from rapid care and complete and integrated support.

Intervene from adolescence to better prevent
“Studies show that from the age of 12, adolescents begin to experience alcohol and drugs. As the brain is still developing, these substances can inflict more neurological damage than on an adult brain, especially in young people who are at risk of developing mental illness. It is therefore imperative to detect the disease quickly and upstream and to set up an intervention plan adapted to the condition of each young person ”, mentioned Dr. Patricia Conrod, clinical psychologist at CHU Sainte-Justine and associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Montreal. "By ensuring better support and optimal access to services!" This program will make it possible in the long term to improve the development of young people, both in terms of engagement and academic success, to prevent drug abuse and to reduce the impact of mental illness. She added.

A prevention program in 3 parts
The project will be broken down into three parts. First, it aims to identify young people with one of the five vulnerability profiles: impulsivity, thrill-seeking, anxiety, depression and tendency to psychosis. He then proposes interventions adapted to each young person and thus promotes early and integrated care, in concert with the interveners in the field.

A second component provides for the establishment of a support and intervention center aimed at better equipping parents and families in their interventions with young people. Finally, a third component will focus on the creation of a platform bringing together all the knowledge generated by Quebec and Canadian professionals working in mental health. This essential tool will ensure the sharing of knowledge between the various health professionals, better support for families throughout the province during the entire intervention process and the dissemination of training across Canada.

“In Quebec, the CHU Sainte-Justine has taken the initiative to develop this innovative project which is part of a national strategy for the continuous improvement of mental health services for young people, which once again demonstrates the leadership of our institution and our recognized expertise in child psychiatry and mental illnesses, affirmed the Dr Fabrice Brunet, President and CEO of CHU Sainte-Justine. “This donation from RBC Royal Bank will therefore allow us to have a significant impact on the well-being of the population of children and adolescents. "

RBC Royal Bank: a partner committed to the well-being of young people
“RBC Royal Bank is proud to be a partner of CHU Sainte-Justine, which is constantly innovating to improve the health of young Quebecers. Thanks to this hopeful project, we will be able to reach young people struggling with mental health problems in their communities. RBC Royal Bank's financial contribution is long-term and aims to improve the communities in which we operate, ”said
Martin Thibodeau, President, RBC Royal Bank, Quebec Branch.

"We are very proud to be able to count on a major partner such as RBC Royal Bank, which represents an important lever in the deployment of this pan-Canadian initiative," said Maud cohen, President and CEO of the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation. “Thanks to this exemplary donation, which is part of our More Better Healing campaign, the CHU Sainte-Justine teams will be able to offer the best possible support and accompaniment to adolescents and families affected by mental illness. "

About the CHU Sainte-Justine
The Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center (CHU) is the largest mother-child center in Canada and the 2^e largest pediatric center in North America. He is a member of the large network of excellence in health at the University of Montreal (RUIS). It has 5,664 employees, including 1,578 nursing assistants and 1,117 healthcare professionals, 502 physicians, dentists and pharmacists, 822 residents and more than 200 researchers, 300 volunteers, 3,400 trainees and students from all disciplines. The CHUSJ has 484 beds, including 35 at the Marie Enfant Rehabilitation Center (CRME), the only center dedicated exclusively to pediatric rehabilitation in Quebec. The WHO has recognized the CHU Sainte-Justine as a “Health Promoting Hospital”. chusj.org

About the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation
The mission of the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation is to mobilize the community and support the CHU Sainte-Justine in its mission of excellence to offer children and mothers of today and tomorrow one of the best levels of health in the world. fondation-sainte-justine.org

SOURCE CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation