Recognizing the importance of supporting mental health services for pediatric patients and their families, Sobeys Inc. and The Sobey Foundation announced its national partnership with Canada’s Children’s Hospital Foundations on a new program called A Family of Support: Child and Youth Mental Health Initiative.
A Family of Support will fund local mental health programs to support specific provincial needs at 13 Canadian children’s hospitals, including MacKids. Sobeys Inc. and The Sobey Foundation will be investing millions in this long-term initiative to drive meaningful change in the lives of young people and their families.
At MacKids, A Family of Support will fund a project called Intervening in the Acute Management for Suicidal Adolescents and Families in the Emergency Department (I AM SAFE). This six-week psychotherapy intervention for individuals and families is provided by a trained therapist, and it focuses on improving family communication, reducing family conflict and increasing coping skills for youth. Enrollment for the project will begin in the next few months.
If this multi-site clinical trial proves effective, I AM SAFE will provide an innovative and accessible intervention that can be used by any trained outpatient therapist to help prevent youth suicide.
