The Need
A Brighter Future for Youth, Close to Home
For William Osler Health System (Osler), the COVID-19 pandemic amplified what was already a growing problem — youth struggling with their mental health and inadequate access to care. Before the pandemic, Osler experienced more emergency mental health visits than any other hospital in Ontario, and now, we continue to see upwards of 3,000 annual visits from youth requiring mental health support.
Prolonged social isolation, school closures and pandemic-related family stress contributed to the surge of youth facing mental health struggles. With over 28,000 youth in Ontario currently waitlisted to receive care, it’s undeniably important that we build the capacity to provide specialized treatment to youth struggling in our region—before they reach a point of crisis.
Now is our time to positively impact the lives of youth in our community. Your support will help us increase the capacity for mental health care as we build Brampton’s new hospital, which will include our region’s first Intensive Day Treatment for Youth struggling with self-harm and suicidal thoughts.
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